Leaders of Islam
There are Islamic leaders that are deeply respected and well-known to the Islam community.
In the large mosques, full-time imams perform all the works that include running schools, Islamic centers, visiting the sick, and help run rituals such as preparing a couple for the wedding. Educated Muslims worked in Quranic interpretation and political discussions.
These educated men formed a class of religious scholars known as the ulama, (also known as alim for singular) or "people of knowledge" from the 9th Century. |
Islam doesn't have clergies that have authority over rites and rituals so many Muslims, that have the knowledge, may perform any ritual or prayer.
Some Muslims of mosque may learn how to lead prayers given on Friday sermon during the early times of Islam. They were those who stood in the front known as imams. It is still done, in the modern day in some places, by members of the mosque congregation. The roles of a ulama as scholars and teachers of the Quran, family law, and theology (or kalaam) defines and shapes them. The ulama controls the schools (or madrasahs) and court. This influences the society to understand the culture and teach themselves as well as the future generations,
The ulama lead the religious teachings of the Muslims or ummah. They have a variety of different duties and specializations, but together they share the responsibility of maintaining continuity in the spiritual and intellectual life of the ummah. |