Khalaf bin ‘Umar (rahimahullah) narrates the following:

I once heard Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) mention, “I did not commence issuing fatwas until I consulted those ‘Ulamaa who were more knowledgeable than myself and sought their opinion. I asked them, ‘Do you regard me capable and worthy of issuing fatwas?’ I asked the great Imaams, Imaam Rabee‘ah (rahimahullah) and Imaam Yahya bin Sa‘eed (rahimahullah), if they felt me to be worthy of issuing fatwas, and they instructed me to serve in this deeni position.”

I then asked Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah), “What would you have done had they prohibited you from issuing fatwas?” Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) replied, “If they prohibited me from issuing fatwas, I would have certainly refrained. It is not correct for a person to consider himself worthy of any position and engage in it before he first seeks the approval of those who have more knowledge than him.”

(Siyar A’laam min Nubalaa 8/62)