muft

Muft, often spelled mufti, is a title for a Muslim jurist who interprets Islamic law and issues fatwas—formal legal opinions on questions of religious practice and doctrine. The standard English plural is muftis; the Arabic term is muftī, derived from the activity of issuing legal opinions. The role and authority of a mufti can vary widely by region and tradition.

A mufti is typically trained in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and is expected to have extensive knowledge of the Qur’an, Hadith, and other classical legal sources. The exact qualifications and appointment processes differ by country, community, and school of thought. In some contexts a mufti serves as a religious consultant to individuals or institutions, while in others an official mufti may work within a state or religious institution.

Fatwas address a broad range of issues, from ritual observance and personal conduct to commercial, civil, and ethical matters. In many settings fatwas are advisory rather than binding; in others they may carry significant authority within a community or under a particular legal framework. Modern systems sometimes establish national or regional fatwa bodies or appoint a grand mufti to issue opinions that guide policy or legal interpretation, though the binding force of such opinions varies.

Differences exist across Islamic traditions. In Sunni Islam, muftis may come from various jurisprudential schools or operate independently; in Shia Islam related roles are often filled by scholars known as mujtahids or marjaʿ taqlīd, with different mechanisms for issuing guidance. See also fatwa, grand mufti, and qadi for related concepts.