fatwa

noun

fat·​wa ˈfət-wə How to pronounce fatwa (audio)
ˈfät-wä
: a legal opinion or decree handed down by an Islamic religious leader

Examples of fatwa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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In recent weeks, at least one high-profile Iranian official has issued a fatwa, or ruling grounded in Islamic law, against the Republican and also against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025 One such fatwa was the one issued by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the previous supreme leader, against author Salman Rushdie, who was stabbed multiple times at the Chautauqua Institution in southwestern New York in 2022. Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 30 June 2025 The fatwa from Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi called on Muslims around the world to take a stand, according to the New York Sun. Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 29 June 2025 Khomeini issued a fatwa, or religious edict, ordering the execution of political prisoners, including large numbers of Kurdish dissidents. Shukriya Bradost, The Conversation, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for fatwa

Word History

Etymology

Arabic fatwā

First Known Use

circa 1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fatwa was circa 1889

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Cite this Entry

“Fatwa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fatwa. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.

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