Can American Imams issue Binding Decrees?

This article was originally published as a submission to Muslim Matters. The version below is nearly identical, with only a couple words added. When I was studying Islam in Medinah, the question of this article was one that burned deep into my mind. We learned the difference between the statement of a mufti and the ruling of a qāḍī. Muftis tell questioners what they should do with respect to…