Ulema

Ulema (Arabic: علماء) is the community of legal scholars of Islam and the Sharia. Their organization and powers vary from Muslim community to community. They are most powerful in Shi'a Islam where their role is institutionalized, but where they are subordinate to the heirs of Ali, and the hierarchy of mullahs. In most countries they are merely local power figures.

Reference

:G. Jansen, 'Militant Islam', 1979

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