fatwa (pl. fatawa)
(fatwā (pl. fatāwa))
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| (Language: Arabic) |
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| Short Description: |
A legal opinion issued by a scholar of Islamic law. |
| Long Description: |
A legal opinion issued by a scholar of Islamic law. Such opinions usually involve the application of Islamic law to new and varied circumstances that arise in the Islamic community. Technically, these opinions have no absolute authority over Muslims except to the extent that they willingly accept a particular opinion on a certain matter. Fatwās are often accorded a great deal of respect within the Islamic tradition, although their impact and the extent of their acceptance are often dependent upon the perceived legal knowledge of the issuer. |
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| Source(s): |
Islam, Fundamentalism, and the Betrayal of Tradition, edited by Dr. Joseph Lumbard |
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