Scholars of the Quran, Islamic law, and theology (who are called ulama, meaning “the learned”) came to represent a permanent class of religious scholars often distinguished in society by their form of dress. They claimed a primary role as the protectors and authoritative interpreters of Islam. Many titles exist for Islamic religious scholars, reflecting their functions in interpreting Islam, some in theology, others in law. Among the ulama, mujtahid is a special title for one who is qualified to interpret Islamic law (using ijtihad, or independent reasoning). A mufti is a specialist in Islamic
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