WorldJuly 20, 2026

fatwa

/ˈfæt.wɑː/

Definition

A formal legal opinion or decree issued by an Islamic authority regarding matters of religious law.

Etymology

Derived from the Arabic word 'fatwā', which relates to the root for providing a formal answer or opinion. It entered English in the 19th century to describe these specific authoritative religious rulings.

In the news

In this article, the author suggests that Iran could codify its leadership's religious prohibition against nuclear weapons into law, using it as a formal diplomatic guarantee to assure the international community of its nonproliferation commitments.

An Iranian Vision of the New Middle East

Read the full article ↗

Foreign Affairs

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