Adalat

/ɑːdɑːˈlɑːt/ noun

Definition

A court of justice or law in Muslim countries; also refers to a ruler's or judge's official court session or tribunal.

Etymology

From Arabic 'adālat' (justice), derived from 'ʿadl' (justice/equity). Entered English through colonial and diplomatic encounters with Islamic legal systems.

Kelly Says

Adalat reveals how justice systems travel through language—when British colonizers in India encountered the local courts, they adopted 'adalat' rather than translating it, showing respect for an entirely different legal tradition.

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