Al-Barrak has drawn attention for issuing controversial fatwas, or religious edicts. Scribes reviewed queries directed to Ottoman muftis and rewrote them to facilitate issuing of fatwas. He was considered the final authority on issuing fatwas or religious rulings. The Wahhabis brought to light some fatwas denouncing Shias as apostate. The people followed the ulama's fatwas instead of state issued law. A jurist issuing fatwas is called a "mufti". The most notorious examples are the fatwas of militant extremists. In theory, a mufti was expected to issue fatwas free of charge. Individual fatwas relating to personal matters were exempt from the royal decree. Following independence, most Muslim states established national organizations devoted to issuing fatwas. This view is upheld by many radical scholars fatwas. He used to hold a "majlis", a gathering, where he gave his discourses or fatwas. The fatwas (legal opinions) and ruling of the Board shall be binding. There have been several fatwas against domestic violence. The first fatwas discouraging the use of tobacco dates from 1602.