The First Mufti of the Islamic Ummah

Answer

Muftis belong precisely to this second class [of scholars], and the very first Grand Mufti of this ummah is the blessed Messenger of the two worlds (mankind and jinn), ﷺ himself; and this distinction reached him ﷺ from the Lord of Might. In the Noble Qur'an, the word "iftāʾ" (issuing a ruling) is even used for the Lord of the Worlds Himself.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.