ulema (redirected from Islamic cleric)

u·le·ma or u·la·ma  (l-mä)

pl.n.

Muslim scholars trained in Islam and Islamic law.

---

[Turkish 'ulem, from Arabic 'ulam', wise men, pl. of 'lim, wise, learned, active participle of 'alima, to know; see lm in Semitic roots.]

---

ulema [ˈuːlɪmə]

n

1. (Non-Christian Religions / Islam) a body of Muslim scholars or religious leaders

2. (Non-Christian Religions / Islam) a member of this body

[from Arabic 'ulamā scholars, from `alama to know]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

ulema - the body of Mullahs (Muslim scholars trained in Islam and Islamic law) who are the interpreters of Islam's sciences and doctrines and laws and the chief guarantors of continuity in the spiritual and intellectual history of the Islamic community ulama body - a group of persons associated by some common tie or occupation and regarded as an entity; "the whole body filed out of the auditorium"; "the student body"; "administrative body" Mollah, Mulla, Mullah - a Muslim trained in the doctrine and law of Islam; the head of a mosque