qazi

Qazi is a title and surname used in several Muslim-majority regions. It derives from the Arabic qadi, meaning judge, and is common in Persian- and Urdu-speaking areas as Qazi; in Bengali-speaking areas the form Kazi is also common. Historically, a qazi was a local or regional judge and religious scholar who applied Islamic law to civil and family disputes, issued legal opinions, and supervised religious institutions. The scope of authority varied by era and polity, but the position generally combined judicial and scholarly functions under the broader framework of sharia.

In modern times, Qazi often serves as an honorific or surname rather than a formal judicial title. It remains a cultural marker in parts of South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia, though many states rely on secular courts for most legal matters. Spelling and usage vary by language and region, with Kazi as a common Bengali form, and kadı representing the Turkish-Ottoman cognate. The name is encountered among both clergy and families as a hereditary or professional designation.

See also Qadi, Kadı, and Kazi (surname).