fatwa

[faht-wah]

noun

1. an Islamic religious decree issued by the ʿulama.

fatwa

/ ˈfætwɑː /

noun

1. a non-binding judgment on a point of Islamic law given by a recognized religious authority

Word History and Origins

Origin of fatwa¹

First recorded in 1985–90, fatwa is from the Arabic word fatwā

Word History and Origins

Origin of fatwa¹

Arabic

Example Sentences

A fatwa - a legal ruling as per Islamic law - was issued against her and a man tried to attack her with a knife before he was overpowered by her husband.

From BBC

Iran's religious leader issued a fatwa calling for the author's death due to the book.

From BBC

He has not said whether his alleged actions were influenced by the fatwa.

From BBC

A fatwa is a non-binding Islamic legal ruling from a respected religious scholar usually based on the Quran or the Sunnah - the sayings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad.

From BBC

Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa in 1989, calling for Rushdie’s assassination.

From BBC