Fatwa No : 2942
Using the Word "Molana" for an Aalim (Islamic Scholar)

Using the Word "Molana" for an Aalim (Islamic Scholar)

34862/34958
Dear Sir,Salaam Alekum,Through your site I want to know the meaning of word \" Mollana\" used by so many Alam-e-Din in sub-continent.As per my knowledge in Sura Baqara Last Ayyat it is written \" Inta Mollana funsoorna allal qoom-el-kafareen. Please give me this answer is this word not for Allah in the quote Ayyat? if yes then why these peoples use this word before their name either they don\'t know or there are some other meaning of this word?I hope that you will reply me soon.for reply you can use urdu or English.
Best regards,
Muhammad Athar Malik

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

The word "Moula/مولی" is an Arabic word which means; master, leader, chief, head, etc. This word also denotes the opposite of the mentioned meaning, such as; servant, freed slave, worker etc. Similarly, the word "Na/نا" in the Arabic language, is the possessive pronoun for the third person plural. Adjoined, they then form the word "Moulana/مولانا" which then means; our master, our leader, our chief, or; our servant, our slave etc. respectively. However, the meaning will be determined by the occasion in which the word is used or by the one who is being referred to. Therefore, in the words "Anta Moulana/انت مولانا" of Sura-e-Baqara, the word "Moulana" means "Our Master, the one upon whom all of our matters are submitted".
It has also been narrated in Ahadith (as extracted from Sahih al Bukhari 575/1), that the messenger of Allah said to Hazrat Zaid (R.A), "انت اخونا ومولانا", meaning: "You are our brother and our 'Moula'". It has also been narrated (as mentioned in Mirqaat, 472/10) about Hazrat Ali (R.A) that a group of people came to him and greeted him saying, "السلام علیک یا مولانا", meaning: "Peace be upon you, O our 'Moula'!". In both occasions, the word "Moula" was used , however, carrying a different meaning, where in the former narration, it was used to mean a freed slave, and in the latter, it was used to mean a chief or leader.
As for the learned scholars, they are also addressed with the term "Moulana" meaning "Our leader", as a form of reverence and respect.
Allah knows best.