âlim

âlim, also transliterated alim, is a term for a scholar or learned person in Islamic contexts. In Arabic, the word is عالم (ālim), from the root ʿ-l-m meaning knowledge; the long vowel is often indicated in transliteration as â or ā. The term denotes a person with extensive knowledge of religious sciences and related fields. In Islamic usage, an alim is versed in Qur’an, hadith, fiqh (jurisprudence), theology, and language, and may hold roles such as teacher, jurist, mufti, or qadi.

Historically, ulama formed a scholarly class that interpreted religious law, issued fatwas, taught in mosques and madrasas, and advised rulers. The plural form ulama (or ulema in Persian, Urdu, and Turkish) is widely used in both classical and modern contexts. In many languages, alim is also used as a common noun or honorific for scholars, and it can function as a given name or surname in several Muslim-majority regions.

The term exists alongside the concept of formal religious authority in various Islamic societies, where institutions such as madrasas, universities, and councils have connected religious and secular knowledge. The phrase Al-ʿAlīm, meaning “The All-Knowing,” is also one of the 99 names of God in Islam, illustrating the close linguistic link between the term for a knowledgeable person and divine attributes.