Mullahs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A title for Islamic scholars or leaders who are recognized for their knowledge of Islamic law and theology
2. Individuals who hold religious authority in Muslim communities, often involved in teaching and guidance
3. Clerics or religious officials in Islam responsible for interpreting and applying Islamic principles and law

Etymology: "Mullahs" is simply the plural of "mullah," so the story belongs to the singular. The title came into English from Persian "mullā," which in turn was borrowed from Arabic "mawlan," a word meaning "vicar" or "guardian." The Arabic root carries the idea of someone standing in for or protecting another, which fits a role in which a religious scholar looked after the community's understanding of the law. The path from Arabic to English ran through Persia, where the word was adopted and became a standard title for educated religious men. Persian is where the form familiar to English speakers took shape, and English borrowed it from there, so the word reached readers already shaped by a Persian intermediary rather than directly from Arabic.

Synonyms: clerics, imams