What are the linguistic and technical definitions of doubt (shakk) and ambiguity (ishtibah), with examples of ambiguity in land and in purity, and of doubt in clothing?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Oct 24, 2026
Linguistically, doubt (shakk) is the opposite of certainty (yaqeen). Technically, it is judging something while moderately considering its opposite. As for 'ishtibah' (ambiguity/resemblance), linguistically it means the mixing and similarity of matters. Scholars have not differentiated between the linguistic and technical meanings of 'ishtibah'. Therefore, the terms 'ishtibah' and 'shakk' are not limited in their usage to land, purity, or clothes only; rather, their usage is unrestricted.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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