Allim

Allim is a term rooted in Arabic linguistic and Islamic theological usage. In its primary form, the definite Arabic expression al-ʿAlīm (العليم) means “the All-Knowing.” It is one of the 99 Names of Allah (Asma’ al-Husna) in Islamic tradition, used to describe God’s perfect and comprehensive knowledge of all things, including hidden matters and the future. In transliteration, it is commonly rendered as Al-’Aleem or Al-Alim, with Allim sometimes appearing in non-specialist texts or less formal contexts.

In Arabic, the base root ʿ-ʿ-l-m conveys knowledge or awareness, yielding the noun ʿālim meaning “a scholar” or “a learned person.” As a common noun, ʿālim refers to someone educated in religious or scholarly disciplines. In many Muslim-majority cultures, Alim or Al-ʿĀlim appears as a given name or surname, and the term is used in educational and clerical contexts to denote learned authority. The plural form in Arabic is ulama, though regional variations exist in usage.

Distinct from the divine epithet, Allim or Al-ʿAlīm as a human descriptor may appear in literature or discourse when referring to scholars or institutions devoted to Islamic sciences. In Southeast Asia and other regions, the word “alim” is often associated with religious scholars and educational corps, sometimes forming part of titles or organizational names.

Overall, Allim primarily denotes knowledge-linked concepts in Arabic, with a significant theological role as one of God’s names and a broader semantic range referring to scholars and learning.