# mullah

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmʊ.lə/ · frequency rank #40,353

## Definitions
1. An honorific title for a scholar of theology and sharia law.
2. An honorific title for a mosque leader.
3. A scholar and teacher of theology and sharia law, and an issuer of fatwas.
4. A conservative Muslim leader or cleric, especially one who is hostile against other religions.
5. A Muslim.
6. A low-level cleric who specializes in telling stories of Ashura, rather than teaching or issuing fatwas.
7. A low-level cleric who specializes in telling stories of Ashura, rather than teaching or issuing fatwas.
See also: ruhani

## Etymology
Derived from Classical Persian مُلَّا (mullā), from Arabic مَوْلًى (mawlan, “vicar, guardian”).

## Easily confused with
- **muller** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mullah-vs-muller)
- **mullen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mullah-vs-mullen)
- **mullet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mullah-vs-mullet)
- **mull** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mull-vs-mullah)
- **mulch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mulch-vs-mullah)
- **Mulan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/mulan-vs-mullah)

## Common misspellings (7)
`mlulah`, `mmullah`, `mulah`, `mulalh`, `mullahh`, `mullha`, `umllah`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/mullah