A Muslim religious scholar, teacher of Islamic law, or learned person in matters of faith; variant spelling of alfaki and alfaqui.
From Arabic 'al-faqih,' with the '-in' or '-ine' suffix added in medieval Spanish and French, representing attempts to Latinize the Arabic term. The multiple spellings reflect the gradual absorption of the word into European languages over centuries.
The word 'alfaquin' appears in documents from the Spanish Inquisition era, often used when referring to Muslims scholars being interrogated—it shows how the same word could carry very different meanings depending on whether it was used respectfully or with suspicion.
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