We are bothered by such fatwas because they are not intellectual opinions. They are solely concerned with religion and as such they might have implications on people in this world and the life after.

They become Shariah rules to be observed and followed. They are not individual views on topics such as universities, education, health, which represent a wide area on which people can tread and express their own views.

We know that the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Ashaikh, leads prayers in Riyadh’s biggest mosque. He is available in his office and his telephones are always on. So anyone requesting a fatwa on a certain topic can always turn to him.

Many members of the Ifta Committee have programs on satellite television and radio stations, partly so fatwa seekers can talk to them.

I wish the Supreme Council of Scholars would take up the issue of those issuing fatwas when they are not qualified or authorized to.

In the old times, the fatwa was strongly protected against intruders and unqualified scholars. It is imperative to confront those claiming to be religious scholars, when actually they are not.

Sheikh Bakr ibn Abdullah Abu Zaid has written a good book called “Scholarization”, about the so-called religious sheikhs.

Regrettably, it seems that religious students have not benefited from this book, otherwise we would not see these “scholars” appearing on satellite television to spread hatred and extremism by giving absurd fatwas.

When we see strange fatwas on issues including killing rats, demolishing the Grand Mosque and murdering those who advocate the mixing of genders, we yearn for the old times when the fatwa was sternly protected.

I hope that His Eminence the grand mufti and the Ifta Committee will take measures against unqualified scholars who give random fatwas, especially at a time where their numbers seem to have increased on satellite television.

My fear is that we may reach a stage where everyone will have his own mufti!

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