fatwa

noun

fat·​wa ˈfət-wə 

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

The author was forced into hiding for a decade after Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini called for his death by issuing a fatwa against him. — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2026

The ban follows a similar fatwa issued last year against French luxury jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels banning Muslims from wearing its Alhambra design that features a four-leaf clover, saying the symbol of good luck goes against Islamic beliefs. — Mohamad El Chamaa, Washington Post, 5 Nov. 2026

Also eliminated was Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had issued a fatwa banning development of a nuclear weapon. — Howard Lafranchi, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Nov. 2026

Before the attack, Matar discussed the fatwa against Rushdie and Hezbollah's support for it with individuals in Iran, Australia and Canada, according to prosecutors. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 30 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Arabic fatwā

First Known Use

circa 1889, in the meaning defined above