What Is a Fatwa?

Fatwa (Arabic: فتوى; plural fatawa) is pronounced FAT-wa.

Meaning

A fatwa is an answer given by a qualified Islamic scholar to a question about belief, worship, family life, business or any other part of life. The scholar who gives it is called a mufti. A sound fatwa is based on the Qur’an, the authentic Sunnah, the consensus of scholars and careful reasoning — and it takes into account the questioner’s real situation.

Asking those with knowledge is something the Qur’an itself encourages:

وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًۭا نُّوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ فَسْـَٔلُوٓا۟ أَهْلَ ٱلذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٤٣﴾

And We sent not before you except men to whom We revealed [Our message]. So ask the people of the message if you do not know.

How Muslims use it

Most fatwas are about everyday matters: How do I pray on a long flight? Is this kind of business contract allowed? How should an inheritance be divided? Muslims ask local imams, national councils of scholars or trusted fatwa services.

A fatwa is usually an opinion, not a law enforced by a court, and scholars may give different fatwas on the same question when the evidence allows more than one view. That is why the person giving a fatwa must be properly trained; a social media post or a self-appointed preacher is not a fatwa. In the media the word is sometimes used as if it meant a death sentence, but that is a misunderstanding of a word that simply means a scholarly answer.

Example

“She wasn’t sure whether she could shorten her prayers while travelling, so she asked the imam for a fatwa.”

To understand why scholars can reach different answers, read Where Muslims Differ, and Why It’s Okay.