ulama

American  

[oo-luh-mah] / ˈu ləˌmɑ /

Or ulema

plural noun

Islam.

1. the doctors of Muslim religion and law.

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ulama ¹ British  

/ ˈuːlɪmə /

noun

1. a body of Muslim scholars or religious leaders

2. a member of this body

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ulama ² British  

/ ˌuːˈlɑːmə /

noun

1. a Meso-American team ball game, with a history dating back to as early as 1500 _bc , played with a solid rubber ball on a long narrow court

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Etymology

Origin of ulama

First recorded in 1680–90, ʿulama is from the Arabic word ʿulamā learned men

Example Sentences

Through this alliance many members of the ulama became landowners themselves, creating a religious aristocracy that gave them a level of political independence.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

Similarly, at the time of the Iranian revolution in 1979, the ulama theresaid that birth control was haraam, but now the use of condoms is encouraged, with state-supported condom factories and pre-marital family planning lessons.

From BBC • May 21, 2013

Perhaps it's no surprise that the ulama in different countries make different judgements, and sometimes change their mind.

From BBC • May 21, 2013

Islam does, however, have a scholar class called the ulama.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2012

On her death she was metamorphosed, according to the Buddhist belief, into an ulama, or Devil-bird, which still at nightfall horrifies the villagers by repeating the frantic screams of the bereaved mother in her agony.

From Sketches of the Natural History of Ceylon by Tennent, James Emerson, Sir