Maulvi

Maulvi (also Maulana or Moulvi) is an honorific title used in South Asia and parts of the Muslim world for a religious scholar or teacher. The term derives from Arabic mawla, passing into Persian and Urdu usage, and signals mastery of Islamic sciences and piety. Spelling variations such as Maulana, Maulvi, Moulvi reflect transliteration differences rather than a fixed rank.

In common usage, a maulvi may be a cleric, imam, or educator who teaches at a madrasa, leads daily prayers, delivers sermons on Fridays, and provides guidance on religious matters to the community. The title is not synonymous with a mufti; a mufti is a jurist who issues formal legal opinions (fatwas). A maulvi may, in some contexts, issue advice or rulings informally or under the authority of a madrasa or mosque, but this varies by country and institution.

Education and training typically involve study at religious schools or mosques, focusing on the Qur’an, Hadith, fiqh (jurisprudence), and related disciplines. Many maulvis serve as local or regional religious authorities, oversee madrasas, supervise ceremonies such as weddings or funerals, and provide pastoral guidance. The status and responsibilities of a maulvi can differ widely by country, community, and sect.

The term remains common in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and among South Asian Muslim communities abroad, and is often used as a respectful title for respected teachers and clerics, with regional forms such as Maulana or Mawlana also in use.