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Mullah (Persian: ملا) is a Muslim man, educated in Islamic theology and sacred law. The title, given to some Islamic clergy, is derived from the Arabic word mawla, meaning both "vicar" and "guardian". In large parts of the Muslim world, particularly Iran, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Turkey, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, it is the name commonly given to local Islamic clerics or mosque leaders.

It is primarily understood in the Muslim world as a term of respect (a religiously educated man), though a fairly common usage on the internet includes abuse; grouping Mullah with terrorist, bigot, fanatic. This misunderstanding is mainly caused by the infamous Taliban leader Mohammed Omar.

Gurbani Quote relating to the word 'mullah'[]

He alone is a Mullah, who banishes evil[]

ਸਚੁ ਕਮਾਵੈ ਸੋਈ ਕਾਜੀ ॥ ਜੋ ਦਿਲੁ ਸੋਧੈ ਸੋਈ ਹਾਜੀ ॥ ਸੋ ਮੁਲਾ ਮਲਊਨ ਨਿਵਾਰੈ ਸੋ ਦਰਵੇਸੁ ਜਿਸੁ ਸਿਫਤਿ ਧਰਾ ॥੬॥
Sacẖ kamāvai so▫ī kājī. Jo ḏil soḏẖai so▫ī hājī. So mulā mala▫ūn nivārai so ḏarves jis sifaṯ ḏẖarā. (6)
He alone is a Qazi, who practices the Truth. He alone is a Haji, a pilgrim to Mecca, who purifies his heart.

He alone is a Mullah, who banishes evil; he alone is a saintly dervish, who takes the Support of the Lord's Praise. (6)

You are a Mullah when you know the 'Naam'[]

ਤਾ ਤੂ ਮੁਲਾ ਤਾ ਤੂ ਕਾਜੀ ਜਾਣਹਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਖੁਦਾਈ ॥ ਜੇ ਬਹੁਤੇਰਾ ਪੜਿਆ ਹੋਵਹਿ ਕੋ ਰਹੈ ਨ ਭਰੀਐ ਪਾਈ ॥੨॥

ਸੋਈ ਕਾਜੀ ਜਿਨਿ ਆਪੁ ਤਜਿਆ ਇਕੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਕੀਆ ਆਧਾਰੋ ॥ ਹੈ ਭੀ ਹੋਸੀ ਜਾਇ ਨ ਜਾਸੀ ਸਚਾ ਸਿਰਜਣਹਾਰੋ ॥੩॥
ਪੰਜ ਵਖਤ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਗੁਜਾਰਹਿ ਪੜਹਿ ਕਤੇਬ ਕੁਰਾਣਾ ॥ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਆਖੈ ਗੋਰ ਸਦੇਈ ਰਹਿਓ ਪੀਣਾ ਖਾਣਾ ॥੪॥੨੮॥

Ŧā ṯū mulā ṯā ṯū kājī jāṇėh nām kẖuḏā▫ī. Je bahuṯerā paṛi▫ā hovėh ko rahai na bẖarī▫ai pā▫ī.(2)

So▫ī kājī jin āp ṯaji▫ā ik nām kī▫ā āḏẖāro. Hai bẖī hosī jā▫e na jāsī sacẖā sirjaṇhāro. (3)
Panj vakẖaṯ nivāj gujārėh paṛėh kaṯeb kurāṇā. Nānak ākẖai gor saḏe▫ī rahi▫o pīṇā kẖāṇā. (4)(28)

You are a Mullah, and you are a Qazi, only when you know the Naam.

You may be very educated, but no one can remain when the measure of life is full. (2)
He alone is a Qazi, who renounces selfishness and conceit, and makes the One Name his Support.
The True Creator Lord is, and shall always be. He was not born; He shall not die. (3)
You may chant your prayers five times each day; you may read the Bible and the Koran.
Says Nanak, the grave is calling you, and now your food and drink are finished. (4)(28)

O Mullah, utter the call to prayer[]

ਮਨੁ ਕਰਿ ਮਕਾ ਕਿਬਲਾ ਕਰਿ ਦੇਹੀ ॥ ਬੋਲਨਹਾਰੁ ਪਰਮ ਗੁਰੁ ਏਹੀ ॥੧॥

ਕਹੁ ਰੇ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਬਾਂਗ ਨਿਵਾਜ ॥ ਏਕ ਮਸੀਤਿ ਦਸੈ ਦਰਵਾਜ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਮਿਸਿਮਿਲਿ ਤਾਮਸੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਕਦੂਰੀ ॥ ਭਾਖਿ ਲੇ ਪੰਚੈ ਹੋਇ ਸਬੂਰੀ ॥੨॥
ਹਿੰਦੂ ਤੁਰਕ ਕਾ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਏਕ ॥ ਕਹ ਕਰੈ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਕਹ ਕਰੈ ਸੇਖ ॥੩॥
ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਹਉ ਭਇਆ ਦਿਵਾਨਾ ॥ ਮੁਸਿ ਮੁਸਿ ਮਨੂਆ ਸਹਜਿ ਸਮਾਨਾ ॥੪॥੪॥

Man kar makā kiblā kar ḏehī. Bolanhār param gur ehī. (1)

Kaho re mulāʼn bāʼng nivāj. Ėk masīṯ ḏasai ḏarvāj. (1) rahā▫o.
Misimil ṯāmas bẖaram kaḏūrī. Bẖākẖ le pancẖai ho▫e sabūrī. (2)
Hinḏū ṯurak kā sāhib ek. Kah karai mulāʼn kah karai sekẖ. (3)
Kahi Kabīr ha▫o bẖa▫i▫ā ḏivānā. Mus mus manū▫ā sahj samānā. (4)(4)

Let your mind be Mecca, and your body the temple of worship. Let the Supreme Guru be the One who speaks. (1)

O Mullah, utter the call to prayer. The one mosque has ten doors. (1)(Pause)
So slaughter your evil nature, doubt and cruelty; consume the five demons and you shall be blessed with contentment. (2)
Hindus and Muslims have the same One Lord and Master. What can the Mullah do, and what can the Shaykh do? (3)
Says Kabeer, I have gone insane. Slaughtering, slaughtering my mind, I have merged into the Celestial Lord. (4)(4)

See also[]

Wikipedia
This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original article was at Mullah. The list of authors can be seen in the page history.

Sahih Muslim 1:1

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