What the title “Ayatollah” means in Iran’s leadership and politics

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The title 'Ayatollah' in Iran denotes a high-ranking cleric in Twelver Shiite Islam known for extensive scholarship in Islamic jurisprudence and theology. This title holds significant influence within Iran's religious leadership and political spheres.

“Ayatollah,” an Arabic term meaning “sign of God” or “divine sign,” is a senior clerical title in Twelver Shiite Islam typically reserved for scholars who have spent decades studying and teaching Islamic jurisprudence and theology in seminaries. An ayatollah is generally regarded as a mujtahid — a jurist qualified to use independent legal reasoning and … The post What the title “Ayatollah” means in Iran’s leadership and politics appeared first on Egypt Independent.