mufti

¹muf·ti

noun \ˈməf-tē, ˈmu̇f-\

Definition of MUFTI

: a professional jurist who interprets Muslim law

Origin of MUFTI

Arabic muftī

First Known Use: 1586

Other Religion (Eastern and Other) Terms

Zen, antinomian, avatar, gnosticism, illuminati, ineffable, karma, koan, mantra

Rhymes with MUFTI

tufty

²muf·ti

noun \ˈməf-tē\

Definition of MUFTI

: ordinary dress as distinguished from that denoting an occupation or station <a priest in mufti>; especially : civilian clothes when worn by a person in the armed forces

Origin of MUFTI

probably from ¹mufti

First Known Use: 1816

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

mufti

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Islamic legal authority charged with issuing an opinion (fatwa) in answer to an inquiry by a judge or a private individual. Such a judgment requires extensive knowledge of the Qur'an and the Hadith as well as of legal precedents. During the Ottoman Empire the mufti of Istanbul was Islam's chief legal authority, presiding over the whole judicial and theological hierarchy. The development of modern legal codes in Islamic countries has significantly reduced the authority of mufti, and they now deal only with questions of personal status such as inheritance, marriage, and divorce.