mufti

American  

[muhf-tee] / ˈmʌf ti /

noun

plural

muftis

1. civilian clothes, in contrast with military or other uniforms, or as worn by a person who usually wears a uniform.

2. a Muslim jurist expert in the religious law.

3. (in the Ottoman Empire) a deputy of the chief Muslim legal adviser to the Sultan.

4. (initial capital letter) Grand Mufti.

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mufti ¹ British  

/ ˈmʌftɪ /

noun

1. a Muslim legal expert and adviser on the law of the Koran

2. (in the former Ottoman empire) the leader of the religious community

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mufti ² British  

/ ˈmʌftɪ /

noun

1. civilian dress, esp as worn by a person who normally wears a military uniform

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Etymology

Origin of mufti

First recorded in 1580–90, mufti is from the Arabic word muftī literally, “a person who delivers a judgment,” originally a Muslim legal adviser; sense of mufti def. 1 arises from the legal adviser being a civil official

Explanation

A mufti is an Islamic scholar who is legally able to rule on various religious and personal matters. In some places, people going through a divorce might need the help of a mufti. In Islamic countries, muftis are officials who are authorized to make legal decisions or help judges in deciding cases. Most often, they give advice about inheritance, marriage, divorce, and other civil issues. The word mufti means "judge" in Arabic. The secondary meaning of mufti is "ordinary clothes," when they're worn by people who usually wear a uniform. So a soldier wearing civilian clothes might be said to be in mufti.

Example Sentences

The prince spoke to local residents who make use of the urban regeneration project, including Reem Alrowaili and her seven-year-old daughter, Eliana Mufti.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2026

Ms. Mufti was among the leaders put under house arrest three years ago.

From New York Times • Dec. 8, 2022

Singapore’s top Islamic leader, Mufti Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, said the repeal was a “tough balancing act” and steps to preserve traditional values were crucial.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 21, 2022

"The court issued a final decision on Wednesday mandating weekly visits and our father and lawyer met with Mufti Ahmed Qabalan this morning," said Nawal Cheaito, Liliane's sister.

From Reuters • Aug. 4, 2022

I talked at length with the blue-eyed, blond-haired Hussein Amini, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey