(pl. fuqahāʾ, from Arabic root f-q-h meaning to have a correct understanding of matters). A faqīh is an expert in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). Early in the 10th century CE, the fuqahāʾ represented a major part of the religious elite. They functioned as judges (quḍāt) and jurisconsults (muftīn). The importance of the fuqahāʾ has steadily declined during the 20th-century as a result of the massive legal reforms which took place in most Muslim countries during and after the colonial period. The fuqahāʾ have largely been replaced by modern lawyers, jurists, and judges.
