ayatollah
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A high-ranking Shiite Muslim religious leader who is considered an authority on Islamic religious law (Sharia) and its interpretation. Ayatollahs often hold significant political influence in addition to their religious authority.
Usage
The term "ayatollah" is used as a title and form of address for a very senior religious scholar in Twelver Shia Islam. It signifies a level of scholarly achievement and authority that allows the individual to issue independent legal judgments (fatwas).
Examples
- The ayatollah issued a religious decree on the matter.
- Political power in the country was concentrated in the hands of the senior ayatollah.
- He studied for decades to become an ayatollah.
Advanced Usage
- "Grand Ayatollah": A higher rank, reserved for the most senior and widely followed ayatollahs. They are known as (source of emulation).
- The title is often part of a compound name, e.g., Ruhollah Khomeini.
Variants and Related Words
- Ayatollahship (noun): The office, rank, or period of rule of an ayatollah.
- Hojatoleslam: A lower-ranking clerical title in Shia Islam, often a rank below ayatollah.
Synonyms
- Shia cleric
- Religious leader
- Marja' (specifically, a source of emulation)
Notes on Meaning
The word originates from Persian and Arabic (āyatullāh), meaning "Sign of God." Its meaning is specific to the Shia branch of Islam and carries connotations of both supreme religious scholarship and, in contexts like Iran, substantial political power.
Noun
- a high-ranking Shiite religious leader who is regarded as an authority on religious law and its interpretation and who has political power as well