What is the origin of titles granted to scholars, such as "His Eminence Sheikh" (سماحة الشيخ) and "His Grace Doctor" (فضيلة الدكتور), and what is their linguistic justification?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The word "Doctor" is Latin in origin, and in the14th century, it was applied to religious scholars and physicians. Then, in the 19th century, it became a title for those holding high academic degrees. As for the words "Samahah" (سماحة) and "Fadilah" (فضيلة), they are Arabic, meaning generosity and a high degree of merit, respectively. It is preferable to use descriptive adjectives rather than the infinitive forms when using titles.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Read the full answer on Ftawy