Editing Ulama (section)

{{short description|Muslim legal scholars}}
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[[File:Maqamat hariri.jpg|265px|thumb|Scholars at an [[Abbasid]] library. ''Maqamat'' of al-Hariri. Illustration by [[Yahya ibn Mahmud al-Wasiti|Yahyá al-Wasiti]], [[Baghdad]], 1237.]]
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In [[Islam]], the '''''ulama''''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|uː|l|ə|ˌ|m|ɑː}}; {{langx|ar|علماء|ʿulamāʾ|the learned ones}};<ref name="jacb2">{{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=Jonathan A.C. |url=https://archive.org/details/misquotingmuhamm0000brow/page/3 |title=Misquoting Muhammad: The Challenge and Choices of Interpreting the Prophet's Legacy |date=2014 |publisher=[[Oneworld Publications]] |isbn=978-1-78074-420-9 |page=[https://archive.org/details/misquotingmuhamm0000brow/page/3 3] |quote=The ulama (literally, the learned ones); |author-link=Jonathan A.C. Brown}}</ref> singular {{langx|ar|عالِم|'''ʿālim'''|}}; feminine singular '''''alimah'''''; plural '''''aalimath'''''<ref name="Def_EI2">{{cite encyclopedia |author1=Cl. Gilliot |article-url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediaofi0008unse |article=Ulamā | encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam |author2=R.C. Repp |author3=K.A. Nizami |author4=M.B. Hooker |author5=Chang-Kuan Lin |author6=J.O. Hunwick |date=2012 |publisher=E.J. Brill |isbn=978-90-04-16121-4 |editor1-last=P. Bearman |editor1-first=P. |edition=2 |location=Leiden |doi=10.1163/1573-3912_islam_COM_1278 |editor2-last=Bianquis |editor2-first=Th. |editor3-last=Bosworth |editor3-first=C.E. |editor4-last=van Donzel |editor4-first=E. |editor5-last=Heinrichs |editor5-first=W.P. |article-url-access=registration}}</ref>), also spelled '''''ulema''''', are scholars of Islamic [[doctrine]] and law. They are considered the guardians, transmitters, and interpreters of religious knowledge in Islam.<ref name="Def_EI2"/>

"Ulama" may refer broadly to the educated class of such religious scholars, including [[Theology|theologians]], [[Religious law|canon]] lawyers ([[mufti]]s), judges ([[qadi]]s), professors, and high state religious officials. Alternatively, "ulama" may refer specifically to those holding governmental positions in an [[Islamic state]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=ʿulamāʾ (Islam) |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/ulama |access-date=October 16, 2023 |website=Encyclopaedia Britannica}}</ref>

By longstanding tradition, ulama are educated in religious institutions (''[[madrasa]]s''). The [[Quran]] and [[sunnah]] (authentic [[hadith]]) are the scriptural sources of  [[Sharia|traditional Islamic law]].<ref>{{cite book| last=Zaman | first=Muhammad Qasim | title=The Ulama in Contemporary Islam: Custodians of Change| publisher=[[Princeton University Press]]| year=2007| isbn=978-0-691-13070-5| page=[https://archive.org/details/ulamainconte_zama_2002_000_9059584/page/1 1]| url=https://archive.org/details/ulamainconte_zama_2002_000_9059584/page/1}}</ref>