Fetva

Fetva

in Mohammedanism, is a declaration that a public act is in conformity with the Koran. The right of granting this sanction belongs to the Sheik ul- Islam, who usually consults the college of Ulemas before making a decision. No act of the Turkish government will be readily obeyed without the fetva, because not necessarily binding on the faithful. It has sometimes been used to dethrone sultans, and deliver them over to the fury of the Janizaries. The privilege was resisted by Mourad IV, who boldly beheaded the Sheik ul-Islam for opposing his will.