The phrase
وَبِهِ يُفْتَى
Transliteration: wa bihi yuftā
Literal meaning: “And with it, fatwā is given.”
Explanation
- This phrase is
used in Ḥanafī manuals and fatwā collections as a technical
conclusion marker.
- Functionally it
is identical to wa ʿalayhi l-fatwā.
- It means: “This
is the opinion adopted for issuing fatwā,” i.e. this is the mufta bihi
view.
- The difference
is stylistic:
- wa ʿalayhi
l-fatwā = “upon it is the fatwā”
- wa bihi yuftā = “with it
fatwā is given”
- Both indicate that, out of multiple transmitted opinions within the madhhab, this is the preferred ruling in practice.
Relation to other markers
- wa ʿalayhi
l-fatwā (وعليه الفتوى) – same meaning, slightly different phrasing.
- wa bihi qīla (وبه قيل) –
“it has been said with it” → weaker marker, just reports an opinion.
- al-mukhtār (المختار) –
“the chosen view.”
- al-ṣaḥīḥ /
al-aṣaḥḥ – “sound / most sound view.”
- al-muftā bihi (المفتى به) – “the view upon which fatwā rests.”
✅ In summary:
Wa bihi yuftā = “This is the opinion with which fatwā is issued (the
relied-upon view in practice).”