Okuzeka
Religious Studies & Theology vocabulary · Religious Ethics and Law

Fatwa

Meaning in religious studies & theology, with examples

/ˈfætwɑː/nounCommon term

In religious studies & theology, fatwa means: A formal, usually non-binding legal opinion given by a qualified Islamic scholar, a mufti, in answer to a question about religious law or practice.

In Turkish: fetva

How it is used

A mufti issues or gives a fatwa, and a person requests or seeks one. The plural is fatwas or fatawa. Most fatwas deal with everyday matters such as prayer, inheritance, finance and food. Historians use collections of Ottoman fatwas to study social life.

Example sentences

  1. The mufti issued a fatwa on whether this kind of online contract is permissible.

  2. Collections of Ottoman fatwas tell historians a great deal about daily life.

Common collocations

  • issue a fatwa
  • seek a fatwa
  • fatwa collection
  • official fatwa
  • shariaIn Islam, the divine law and guidance for all areas of life, which Muslim jurists interpret through the Qur'an, the sunna and methods of legal reasoning.
  • imamIn Sunni Islam, a person who leads prayers in a mosque; in Shia Islam, also one of the divinely guided leaders from the Prophet's family, such as Ali and Husayn.
  • IslamA monotheistic religion that began in seventh-century Arabia with the Prophet Muhammad; Muslims regard the Qur'an as God's word and follow practices such as the Five Pillars.
  • canon lawThe body of laws and regulations made by church authorities to govern a Christian church, especially the Catholic Church, its clergy and its members.

More terms: Religious Ethics and Law

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: