Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) was extremely cautious in passing Fatwa. He was once asked forty questions. Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) answered four of the questions and remarked regarding the remaining thirty six questions, “I do not know.” (Mirqaat vol. 1 pg. 528)

Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) once mentioned, “I did not commence passing Fatwa until seventy ulamaa testified that I was capable of passing Fatwa.” (Hilyatul Awliyaa vol. 6 pg. 345)