mullah
n. countablen. a person who is an expert in Islamic law and religion. In some places, this word is also used to describe a leader or a person in power.
n. a learned Islamic scholar or religious leader, specifically one who has studied and mastered the Quran and Hadith. In certain political contexts, it may refer to a high-ranking cleric or a member of a religious authority.
The local mullah gave a speech about charity.
The community gathered at the mosque to hear the mullah explain the new religious guidelines.
While the mullah is primarily a spiritual guide, his influence over local governance and social customs often makes him a central figure in the village's political landscape.
Derived from Classical Persian مُلَّا (mullā), from Arabic مَوْلًى (mawlan, “vicar, guardian”).