noun

fatwa

FAT-wah

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Fatwa (noun) means a formal legal ruling or opinion issued by a mufti or other Islamic judicial authority. Example: “The scholar issued a fatwa on the permissibility of the new banking product.”

noun

A formal legal ruling or opinion issued by a mufti or other Islamic judicial authority.

"The scholar issued a fatwa on the permissibility of the new banking product."

"Muslims sometimes seek a fatwa from a local mufti on a point of religious law."

"The council of scholars published a fatwa clarifying the rule."

A ruling by an Islamic authority calling for a person to be put to death, usually over alleged apostasy or blasphemy.

"The author went into hiding after a fatwa was issued against him."

"News of the fatwa calling for his death spread around the world."

"Governments condemned the fatwa as an incitement to violence."

How to use fatwa

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA fatwa is a formal ruling given by an Islamic religious authority.

When to use it

Fatwa is a neutral term borrowed directly from Islamic legal vocabulary and used in ordinary English news writing.

Memory tip

Remember that most fatwas are routine religious rulings, not death sentences, even though the death-sentence sense is the one most familiar from the news.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

issue a fatwa a fatwa against under a fatwa the fatwa was lifted

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “fatwa” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The scholar issued a _____ on the permissibility of the new banking product.

Etymology

Fatwa is borrowed from the Arabic word for a formal legal opinion, itself the verbal noun of a verb meaning to deliver such an opinion. The same root also gives English mufti, the title of the scholar who issues one.

Origin: Arabic

Synonyms

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ruling edict

Related words

law decision opinion command ruling dominant mandate decree

Frequently asked questions

What does fatwa mean?

A fatwa is a formal legal opinion or ruling given by a mufti or other qualified Islamic authority on a point of religious law.

Is a fatwa always a death sentence?

No. Most fatwas are ordinary legal rulings on everyday religious questions; the sense of a fatwa calling for someone's death is a narrower, extended use.

Why is the word fatwa often linked to Salman Rushdie?

In 1989 the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, then Supreme Leader of Iran, issued a fatwa calling for the death of author Salman Rushdie over alleged blasphemy in his novel, and this case made the death-sentence sense widely known in English.

What is the meaning of fatwa?

"fatwa" (noun) means a formal legal ruling or opinion issued by a mufti or other Islamic judicial authority.

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law decision opinion command ruling dominant mandate decree