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Ayatollah
Ayatollah (Arab., ‘sign of God’). Title of high-ranking Shiʿite Muslim authorities, especially in Iran. It is a recent (20th cent.) title for exceptional jurists (mujtāhid), whose authority rests on that of the infallible Imām—though in 1979, the Ayatollah Khomeini (see KHUMAYNI) adopted the title of Imām for himself. An Ayatollah's decisions (fatwā) have authority only for those who examine and agree with them—in theory; in practice, Ayatollahs gain personal followings, among whom their decisions are accepted as binding. The extension of these personal followings to even wider communities is again a recent innovation.
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JOHN BOWKER. "Ayatollah." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Ayatollah." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Ayatollah.html JOHN BOWKER. "Ayatollah." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Ayatollah.html |
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ayatollah
ayatollah A religious leader among the Imamis, the major tradition of the Muslim Shi'ites. As exemplified by Khomeini, the holding of this title became almost a prerequisite for leading the theocratic state established in the 1979 Iranian Revolution. (Khomeini's successor to the political leadership, Rafsanjani, was not an ayatollah himself, but had been a pupil of Khomeini.)
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JAN PALMOWSKI. "ayatollah." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAN PALMOWSKI. "ayatollah." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-ayatollah.html JAN PALMOWSKI. "ayatollah." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-ayatollah.html |
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ayatollah
ayatollah (Arabic, reflection of God) Honorific title bestowed upon a Muslim leader who has attained significant distinction and, often, political influence. See also Khomeini, Ruhollah
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"ayatollah." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ayatollah." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-ayatollah.html "ayatollah." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-ayatollah.html |
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ayatollah
a·ya·tol·lah / ˌäyəˈtōlə/ • n. a Shiite religious leader in Iran. |
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"ayatollah." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ayatollah." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ayatollah.html "ayatollah." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ayatollah.html |
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ayatollah
ayatollah see Shiites . |
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"ayatollah." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ayatollah." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-ayatolla.html "ayatollah." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-ayatolla.html |
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ayatollah
ayatollah
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"ayatollah." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ayatollah." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ayatollah.html "ayatollah." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ayatollah.html |
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