Mullas

Mullā, often spelled mulla or mullah, is a title used across Muslim communities for a religious scholar or teacher. The term is common in South Asia, the Middle East, and Central Asia. It is generally applied to men regarded as learned in Islamic law (fiqh), theology, and religious practice. The word’s etymology traces to the Persian mullā, itself derived from Arabic, and it has come to signify a respected religious teacher or cleric in many contexts.

In daily use, mullas may teach at madrassas or in mosques, lead prayers, and deliver sermons. They may supervise religious education, interpret religious texts, and provide guidance on local customs and, in some places, family or community matters according to Islamic law. The authority of a mulla varies widely by country, tradition, and local community; the title is not a uniform rank and is distinct from higher titles such as mufti, ayatollah, or grand ayatollah in other clerical hierarchies.

Regional variations are notable. In South Asia, mulla is a common term for a mosque teacher or junior cleric and may indicate local leadership within a community. In Iran and other Persian-speaking areas, the term remains widespread for clerics, though formal clerical ranks exist that denote different levels of scholarship and authority. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, mullas have historically played important community roles, sometimes extending into local governance or political life. In contemporary discourse, the term can be used descriptively for religious leaders with varying degrees of influence, and it may carry different connotations depending on context.