Qadis

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A judge in Islamic law responsible for interpreting and applying legal judgments within a court setting
2. An official who adjudicates cases related to personal status and family matters in accordance with Sharia law
3. A magistrate in Islamic tradition whose role encompasses both legal and moral guidance in community disputes

Etymology: Spanish "alcalde", meaning mayor, descends from this word. It comes from Arabic "al-qāḍī", "the judge", which entered Spanish during the centuries when much of the Iberian Peninsula was under Muslim rule. The Arabic term derives from a root meaning "to decide" or "to judge." The Spanish title kept judicial duties for a long time before it came to denote a town official. English received the term later, probably through travel writing and Ottoman usage, where forms like "cadi" and "kadi" were common. Early English writers applied it mainly to judges in Muslim lands. The spelling "qadi," which better reflects the Arabic sound, became standard in modern scholarship.

Synonyms: judges, magistrates