What Is a Fatwa?

A fatwa (pl. fatawa) is a scholarly legal opinion or ruling on a question of Islamic law (Sharīʿah), issued by a qualified muftī (jurisconsult). It helps guide Muslims in matters where clear guidance may not be immediately evident. A fatwa is not the same as binding legislation; rather, it offers informed insight, based on evidence from the Qurʾān, Sunnah, consensus (ijmāʿ), analogy (qiyās), and other principles of Islamic jurisprudence (usūl al-fiqh).

Purpose & Importance

To clarify religious obligations, prohibitions, and rights in daily life.
To help Muslims reconcile modern challenges with Islamic principles.
To prevent errors and misguidance in matters of worship, business, social life, and personal affairs.
To serve as a reference for scholars, students, and the broader Muslim community.

The Quran, which was revealed fourteen centuries ago, mentioned facts only recently discovered or proven by scientists. This proves without doubt that the Quran must be the literal word of God, revealed by Him to the Prophet Muhammad , and that the Quran was not authored by Muhammad or by any other human being. This also proves that Muhammad is truly a prophet sent by God. It is beyond reason that anyone fourteen hundred years ago would have known these facts discovered or proven only recently with advanced equipment and sophisticated scientific methods. Some examples follow.