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Mollah

Mollah

9.4
A Muslim religious leader who runs a mosque and teaches Islamic law
  • noun
  • /ˈmɒlɑː/
  • UK
translation icon : mullah
  • In the village of Rahmatpur, Iqbal is respected as the local Mollah, guiding the community in religious matters.

Examples

  • The Mollah delivered a powerful sermon during Friday prayers, emphasizing the importance of charity.

  • Mollah Omar did not care to attend the council of ministers, nor to go to the capital.

    Academic text (2003)
  • As a trained Mollah, he interpreted Islamic law for those seeking guidance on ethical dilemmas.

Synonyms

imam
vsMollah
59 6.7

A Muslim religious leader who leads mosque prayers and sometimes acts as a spiritual guide

is more centered on legal training and doctrinal authority than prayer leadership
Mulla
vsMollah
  • Indian
17 8.4

A Muslim religious teacher who leads prayers and teaches about Islam

is the same role expressed with a different spelling
Islamist
vsMollah
  • Specialized
5 7.7

A scholar who studies Islam and its laws

is more a practicing legal and mosque authority than an academic specialist
mullah
vsMollah
4 8.5

A Muslim religious leader who teaches Islam and leads prayers in a mosque

is identical in meaning but spelled differently
mufti
vsMollah
  • Specialized
3 9.9

A Muslim scholar who gives official rulings about Islamic law

is broader and often denotes a mosque head rather than only a jurist
shaykh
vsMollah
1 8.6

A respected Muslim religious leader who gives advice and teaches about faith

is more specific to legal and mosque leadership duties rather than general elder
mujtahid
vsMollah
  • Specialized
9.9

A Muslim scholar who makes legal decisions from Islamic holy texts

is the general trained scholar and mosque leader rather than specialized jurist

Surface Forms

Mollah singular
Mollahs plural

Etymology

The word Mollah (same as mullah) comes from the Arabic word mawlā, which means 'master' or 'guardian' and was used in Persian and other Muslim languages for respected religious leaders. That's why a Mollah today is a Muslim teacher or leader who guides the community and leads prayers.