What are the meanings, historical contexts, and rulings concerning titles such as: "Rabbani Scholar," "Shaykh al-Islam," "Muhaddith," "Faqih," "Imam," "Mujtahid," "Hafiz," "Qadi," "Qadi al-Qudat," "Shaykh al-Qurra," "Mawla," "Mulla," "Salafi," "Qassas," "Wa'iz," "Da'i," "Mufti," "Doctor," "Professor," "Mutawwi'," "Amir al-Hadith," "Amir al-Mu'minin," "Allamah," "Jahbadh," and "Wali," along with supporting evidence, and when is it permissible for a shaykh to be described by these titles and when is it not, and what are the highest ranks among these titles?
The terms mentioned are words coined by people to denote specific attributes and are not devotional in nature. They originated in different times and environments:
- Shaykh: Linguistically, it refers to an old person; then it was used as a title of veneration for scholars and virtuous individuals.
- Shaykh al-Islam: A title for a scholar highly proficient in Islamic sciences.
- Shaykh al-Qurra': The leader and exemplar of reciters (of the Qur'an).
- Al-Hafiz and Al-Muhaddith: Among scholars, these terms are synonymous for someone who has memorized twenty thousand hadiths.
- Al-Qadi: One who undertakes to arbitrate disputes between litigants with binding judgments.
- Qadi al-Qudat: The most knowledgeable and proficient among judges.
- Al-: One who informs about a legal ruling without it being binding.
- Al-Faqih: Linguistically, one who is knowledgeable about something; technically, one who possesses profound knowledge of jurisprudential matters.
- Imam: The leader of prayer, or a scholar whom people follow, or the Caliph of Muslims.
- Ustad: A skilled teacher in education and upbringing.
- Al-Alim al-Rabbani: A scholar who educates people in matters of their religion according to their understanding.
- Amir al-Hadith: One highly skilled in hadith sciences, both narration and understanding.
- Amir al-Mu'minin: The Caliph of Muslims who unites their word.
- Al-Mujtahid: One who has attained the rank of by knowing the science of creeds and the sources of legal rulings.
- Al-Da'iyah: Anyone who advocates for a certain matter, whether for good or for evil.
- Allamah: An exaggerated form indicating abundance and profoundness of knowledge.
- Salafi: Anyone who follows the methodology of the righteous predecessors (the Companions and the praised generations).
- Al-Jahbadh: The scholar who was the undisputed leader of knowledge in his era.
- Al-Wali: Anyone characterized by faith and piety.
- Al-Qassas: One who preaches to people and reminds them of matters of the Hereafter.
- Al-Doctor: An academic title for someone who has obtained a doctorate degree from a university.
- Al-Wa'iz: One who preaches to people and stirs their souls with promises of reward and warnings of punishment.
- Al-Mulla and Al-Mawla: Used by some communities to refer to a scholar or a shaykh.
- Al-Mutawwi': Used by some communities to refer to the prayer leader or one characterized by uprightness.
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