FATWA (FAT-wah)
FATWA is a formal ruling or interpretation on a point of Islamic law given by a qualified legal scholar (mufti). While often misunderstood in popular culture, fatwas are essentially legal opinions that guide Muslims on various aspects of life, from everyday matters to complex theological questions.
Yes. FATWA is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 11 points in Scrabble, 11 in Words With Friends and 11 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.
| Letter | F | A | T | W | A | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabble | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 11 |
| Words With Friends | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 11 |
| Wordfeud | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 11 |
A fatwa represents one of the most important yet misunderstood concepts in Islamic jurisprudence. Far from the sensationalized portrayals in popular media, a fatwa is fundamentally a scholarly legal opinion issued by a qualified Islamic jurist (mufti) in response to a question about Islamic law (Sharia). These rulings serve as guidance for Muslims navigating religious, social, and personal matters within the framework of their faith, functioning similarly to legal opinions in secular jurisprudence or responsa in Jewish law.
The fatwa system emerged from Islam's sophisticated legal tradition, which developed to address the needs of diverse Muslim communities across different times and places. When Muslims encounter situations not explicitly addressed in the Quran or Hadith (prophetic traditions), they may seek guidance from qualified scholars who can interpret these primary sources and apply them to contemporary circumstances. This process, called ijtihad, requires deep knowledge of Islamic texts, legal methodology, and often the specific context of the questioner.
Contrary to popular misconception, fatwas are not universally binding commands or death sentences. They are advisory opinions that carry different weights depending on the issuing authority's credentials and the receiving community's recognition. A fatwa from a village imam about prayer times carries different authority than one from Al-Azhar University about complex financial instruments. Muslims can seek multiple fatwas on the same issue and choose to follow the opinion they find most convincing or appropriate to their circumstances.
The word "fatwa" derives from the Arabic root f-t-y (ف-ت-ي), which relates to youth, newness, and explanation. This root generates several related terms: fatā (young man), futya (youthfulness), and aftā (to give an opinion). The connection between youth and legal opinions might seem surprising, but it reflects the idea of bringing fresh understanding to new questions—making old wisdom young again through contemporary application.
Anagrams: no other word uses exactly the letters of FATWA.
Hooks: no front hooks; back FATWAS.
Words inside FATWA: 12 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: WAFTAFTAWAFATTAWTWAWATAWFAAAATTA. See all words from FATWA.