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Ayatollah (Persian: yatollh from Arabic: yatu l-Lh "Sign of God"; UK: /atl./ US: /atol./) is a high ranking title given to Usuli Twelver Shah clerics. Those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence ethics and philosophy and usually teach in Islamic seminaries.citation needed The next lower clerical rank is Hojatoleslam wal-muslemin. Ayatollah is simillar in rank to a Bishop or Cardinal in Catholicism and Chief Rabbi in Judaism. Contents 1 Rank 2 History 3 Grand Ayatollah 4 See also 5 References 6 External links Rank

The title is currently granted to top Shia mujtahid after completing sat'h and kharij studies in the hawza. By then the mujtahid would be able to issue his own edicts from the sources of Islamic religious laws: the Qur'an the Sunnah ijm and 'aql ("intellect" rather than the Sunn principle of qiyas). Most of the time this is attested by an issued certificate from his teachers. The ayatollah can then teach in hawzas according to his speciality can act as a reference for their religious questions and act as a judge. There is an important difference from Shi'a ayatollahs and "saints" in other religions and Sunni Islam: ayatollahs are not regarded as enlightened by God Himself but by the Word of God.

There are a few women who are equal in ranking to the ayatollahs and are known as Lady Mujtahideh. A current example of a Lady Mujtahideh is Zohreh Sefati.1 Historically there have been several Mujtahidehs in Shi'ism most famously the women in the family of Allama Hilli. History

The name "ayatollah" originates from the Quran where human beings can also be regarded as signs of God the literal translation of the title. 51:2021 of the Quran states: On the earth are signs (Ayat) for those of assured Faith

As also in your own selves: Will ye not then see Grand Ayatollah Main article: Marja' (Islamic law)

Only a few of the most important ayatollah are accorded the rank of Grand Ayatollah (Ayatollah Uzma "Great Sign of God"). This usually happens when the followers of one of the ayatollahs refer to him in many situations and ask him to publish his Juristic book in which he answers the vast majority of daily Muslim affairs. The book is called Resalah which is usually a reinvention of the book Al-Urwatu l-Wuthqah according to their knowledge of the most authentic Islamic sources and their application to current life.

There are around 70 living worldwide; the most famouscitation needed of them are Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani Ali Khamenei Hossein Vahid Khorasani Makarem Shirazi Yousef Sane'i Malakouti Haeri and Sadiq Shirazi. Currently there are four grand ayatollahs in Najaf Iraq center of the Iraqi Shi'i seminaries or Hawzas (currently the most senior is Ali al-Sistani). Other grand ayatollahs include Basir Najafi Mohammad Saeed Al-Hakim and Mohammad Ishaq Al-Fayyad.

Part of a series on Shah Islam Twelvers The Fourteen Infallibles Muhammad  Fatimah  and The Twelve Imams: Ali  Hasan  Husayn al-Sajjad  al-Baqir  al-Sadiq al-Kadhim  al-Rida  al-Taqi al-Naqi  al-Askari  al-Mahdi Concepts Fourteen Infallibles Occultation (Minor  Major) Akhbar  Usul  Ijtihad Taqleed  'Aql  Irfan Mahdaviat Principles Monotheism Judgement Day  Justice Prophethood  Imamate Practices Prayer  Fasting  Pilgrimage Charity  Taxes  Jihad Command Justice  Forbid Evil Love the family of Muhammad Dissociate from their Enemies Holy cities Mecca  Medina Najaf  Karbala  Mashhad Samarra  Kadhimayn Groups Usuli  Akhbari  Shaykhi Nimatullahi  Safaviya Qizilbash  Alevism  Alawism Bektashi  Tabarie Scholarship Marja  Ayatollah  Allamah Hojatoleslam  Mujtahid List of marjas  List of Ayatollahs Hadith collections Peak of Eloquence  The Psalms of Islam  Book of Fundamentals  The Book in Scholar's Lieu  Civilization of Laws  The Certainty  Book of Sulaym ibn Qays  Oceans of Light  Wasael ush-Shia  Reality of Certainty  Keys of Paradise Related topics Criticism This box: view talk See also List of Ayatollahs List of Grand Ayatollahs Clericalism in Iran References Official website at sefaty.net External links Al-Shia Towards an Understanding of the Shiite Authoritative Sources