Mullah
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'
You are a Mullah when you know the 'Naam'
ਤਾ ਤੂ ਮਲਾ ਤਾ ਤੂ ਕਾਜੀ ਜਾਣਹਿ ਨਾਮ ਖਦਾਈ ॥ ਜੇ ਬਹਤੇਰਾ ਪੜਿਆ ਹੋਵਹਿ ਕੋ ਰਹੈ ਨ ਭਰੀਝ ਪਾਈ ॥੨॥ ਸੋਈ ਕਾਜੀ ਜਿਨਿ ਆਪ ਤਜਿਆ ਇਕ ਨਾਮ ਕੀਆ ਆਧਾਰੋ ॥ ਹੈ ਭੀ ਹੋਸੀ ਜਾਇ ਨ ਜਾਸੀ ਸਚਾ ਸਿਰਜਣਹਾਰੋ ॥੩॥ |
Ŧĝ ṯū mulĝ ṯĝ ṯū kĝjī jĝṇėh nĝm kẖuḝĝ▫ī. Je bahuṯerĝ paṛi▫ĝ hovėh ko rahai na bẖarī▫ai pĝ▫ī.(2) So▫ī kĝjī jin ĝp ṯaji▫ĝ ik nĝm kī▫ĝ ĝḝẖĝro. Hai bẖī hosī jĝ▫e na jĝsī sacẖĝ sirjaṇhĝro. (3) |
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) |
O Mullah, utter the call to prayer
ਮਨ ਕਰਿ ਮਕਾ ਕਿਬਲਾ ਕਰਿ ਦੇਹੀ ॥ ਬੋਲਨਹਾਰ ਪਰਮ ਗਰ ਝਹੀ ॥੧॥ ਕਹ ਰੇ ਮਲਾਂ ਬਾਂਗ ਨਿਵਾਜ ॥ ਝਕ ਮਸੀਤਿ ਦਸੈ ਦਰਵਾਜ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ |
Man kar makĝ kiblĝ kar ḝehī. Bolanhĝr param gur ehī. (1) Kaho re mulĝʼn bĝʼng nivĝj. Ėk masīṯ ḝasai ḝarvĝj. (1) rahĝ▫o. |
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) |
See also
- See Wikipedia article on Mullah for more information
- Muslim
- Sufi