Islamic religious leaders

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[edit] Caliph

Caliph is the term or title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. It is an Anglicized/Latinized version of the Arabic word خليفة or Khalīfah, which means "successor", that is, successor to the prophet Muhammad. Some Orientalists wrote the title as Khalîf. The Caliph has often been referred to as Ameer al-Mumineen (أمير المؤمنين), or "Prince of the Faithful," where "Prince" is used in the context of "commander." The title has been defunct since the abolition of the Ottoman Sultanate in 1924. Historically selected by committee, the holder of this title claims temporal and spiritual authority over all Muslims, but is not regarded as a possessor of a prophetic mission, as Muhammad is regarded in Islam as the first prophet.

Poo Imam is an Arabic word meaning "Leader". The ruler of a country might be called the Imam, for example. The term, however, has important connotations in the Islamic tradition especially in Shia Beliefs . In Sunni belief, the term is used for the founding scholars of the four Sunni madhhabs, or schools of religious jurisprudence.

[edit] Ayatollah

Ayatollah (Arabic: آية الله; Persian: آیت‌الله) is a high title given to major Shia clergymen. The word means 'sign of God', and those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, philosophy and mysticism, and usually teach in schools (hawza) of Islamic sciences. Ayatollahs can reach the position of an Marja-e-Taqlid, which allows them to issue fatāwa (plural of "fatwa"). Also see Grand Ayatollah.

[edit] Mullah

Mullah are Islamic clergy who have studied the Qur'an and the Hadith and are considered experts on related religious matters in this religion. The term Mullah is a variation of the word mawla and is used mainly in Central Asia and in the Sub-Continent .

[edit] Mujtahid

Mujtahid An interpreter of the Islamic scriptures, the Qur'an and Hadith. These were traditionally Muftis, who used interpretation (Arabic ijtihad) to clarify Islamic law; but in many modern secular contexts. In that case, the traditional Mufti may well be replaced by a university or madrasa professor who informally functions as advisor to the local Muslim community in religious matters such as inheritance, divorce, etc.

[edit] Muezzin

Muezzin (the word is pronounced this way Turkish, Urdu, etc.; in Arabic: مؤذن [IPA: mʊʔæðːın) is any person at the mosque who makes the adhan (call to prayer) to Friday service and the five daily prayers, or Salah. Some mosques have specific places for the adhan to be made from, such as a minaret or a designated area in the mosque.

[edit] Sahib

Sahib is a denoting an Islamic leader held in high regard by one or more other Muslims. The term is used almost exclusively in the sub-continent area. The term is Arabic in origin and can be translated as lord, master, or friend.