What does Tafwid mean?

Islam > Glossary > Tafwid

Discover the meaning of the term Tafwid (تفويض) in Islamic vocabulary.

Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition Tafwid

Tafwid according to Al-Kulliyat (Al-Kafawi)

Yielding, leaving dispute; hence the mafouda: she entrusted her intimacy her husband, that is, married without dower, so in al-Maghrib.

Tafwid according to Mu'jam al-Mustalahat al-Fiqhiyya

Lexically: verbal noun of « I delegated the matter to him »: returning it him; tafwid the woman: marrying her without dower; a people disorderly: no chief; the people came disorderly: mixed each with other. Imam an-Nawawi said: our companions say tafwid two kinds: dower-tafwid and intimacy-tafwid. Dower-tafwid: saying her guardian: marry me the dower what you will, or I will, or the suitor wills, or so-and-so; marrying her per the specified wish, the marriage valid by the named sum, though below equivalence-dower; marrying her without dower or the vagueness mentioned, marriage’s validity divergent, soundest its validity with equivalence-dower. Intimacy-tafwid: voiding marriage of dower; two types: valid tafwid, corrupt tafwid: valid issuing from one deserving the dower disposing effectively; corrupt, as tafwid of the girl and the insensible. Husband’s tafwid of divorce to another categories: first, mandate: making divorce’s creation another’s, husband barred pronouncing it. Second, option: making divorce’s creation explicit or juridically another’s right. Third, ownership: making divorce’s creation another’s property.

Tafwid according to Maqalid al-'Ulum (As-Suyuti)

Voiding marriage of dower with the entitled one’s leave.

Tafwid according to At-Tawqif (Al-Munawi)

Returning the matter to Allah and disavowing capacity and strength.

Tafwid according to At-Ta'rifat al-Fiqhiyya (Al-Barkati)

Among sufis: yielding to Allah’s order, His measure and decree, in what He wills of sound and corrupt, said al-Qari in Zayn al-Houlm.

Related terms: Tafwid

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