Fatwa

A fatwa is a nonbinding legal opinion issued by a qualified Islamic jurist in response to a question about Islamic law. It explains how a jurist applies religious sources and methods to a particular issue.

Ifta: The practice of issuing legal opinions on questions of Islamic law. Ifta is the process through which a jurist produces a fatwa.
Qada: The administration of justice by an Islamic judge applying law to a dispute. Unlike a fatwa, a judicial ruling can settle a case with binding effect.
Islamic bioethics: Ethical reasoning about medicine and biology grounded in Islamic sources and legal traditions. Fatwas help address questions such as organ donation and reproductive medicine.
Muhammad: The religious and political leader regarded by Muslims as the final prophet of Islam. Early Muslims sought religious guidance from Muhammad, a precedent for later legal consultation.
Abdulaziz ibn Baz: A Saudi Islamic scholar who served as Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia from 1993 to 1999. His prominent opinions illustrate the public influence of a nationally recognized mufti.
Mufti: A qualified Islamic jurist who issues legal opinions. A mufti assesses the question and gives the fatwa.
Qadi: A judge who adjudicates disputes under Islamic law. A qadi issues judgments in court, while a mufti offers legal opinions.
Islamic finance: Financial activity structured according to Islamic legal and ethical principles. Financial institutions seek fatwas on whether products comply with Islamic law.
Sahaba: The companions of Muhammad who transmitted teachings and guided the early Muslim community. Their legal opinions helped shape early practices of religious guidance.
Yusuf al-Qaradawi: An Egyptian Islamic scholar known for influential writings and broadcast legal opinions. His wide-reach media work shows how fatwas can circulate beyond local scholarly settings.

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