Tafwid

Tafwid is an Arabic term meaning "relegation" or "delegation," used in Islamic theology and law. In theology, it refers to the doctrine of tafwid al-amr li-llah, which holds that the meanings of ambiguous Quranic verses should be consigned solely to God. Proponents of this view, such as classical scholars al-Ghazali, Ibn Qudamah, Suyuti, Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, and Ibn Kathir, argue that problematic texts should remain uninterpreted, emphasizing their unknowability. They reject metaphorical interpretations and avoid likening divine attributes to human features or nullifying them. This approach is attributed to the salaf (early exemplary Muslims). Debates exist among scholars regarding the nature of tafwid: followers of Ibn Taymiyya, including contemporary Salafis, advocate for accepting the literal sense of divine attributes while consigning their modality to God, whereas anti-Salafi scholars reject such distinctions and accept tafwid without qualification.

In Islamic law, tafwid refers to a type of divorce (talaq al-tafwid) where the husband delegates the power of divorce to the wife. This delegation can occur during the marriage contract or later, with or without conditions. While classical jurists differed on its validity, most modern Muslim-majority countries recognize this form of divorce in some capacity.

Additionally, tafwid is used in legal contexts to denote delegation of power, authorization of an act, or issuance of a warrant for arrest.