FIRMAN, an edict of an oriental sovereign, used specially to designate decrees, grants, passports, etc., issued by the sultan of Turkey and signed by one of his ministers. (The word is an adaptation of the Per. f ermdn, a mandate or patent.) A decree bearing the sultan's sign-manual and drawn up with special formalities was termed a hatti-sheri f, Arabic words meaning a "line, writing or command," and "lofty, noble." A written decree of an Ottoman sultan was termed an irade, the word being taken from the Arab. irdda, will, volition, order.