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Madrasah Bag

Part of: Older students and advanced study

Glossary

What is an alim?

By the Madrasah Bag team

Definition

An alim (plural: ulama) is a person with formal training in Islamic scholarship, usually through a multi-year alimiyyah course covering Arabic, the Quran, hadith and fiqh. A woman who has completed the course is an alimah. In the UK the title is usually earned at a Darul Uloom or an Islamic college.

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Meaning

From the Arabic root for knowledge ('ilm), alim means "one who knows". The plural ulama refers to scholars collectively.

How people become an alim

Most complete the alimiyyah course, often six to eight years full-time, commonly following the Dars-e-Nizami curriculum at a Darul Uloom. Graduates often receive an ijazah.

Alim vs hafiz

An alim is trained in Islamic knowledge: Arabic, tafsir, hadith and fiqh. A hafiz has memorised the whole Quran. They are different achievements, and one person can be both. Many students finish hifz first and then go on to the alimiyyah course.

Spellings

You will see alim written as aalim, a'alim or alem. They are the same word, عالم, meaning one who knows.

Alim as a madrasah level

In Bangladesh and parts of India, "Alim" also names a stage of madrasah education that sits roughly alongside higher secondary school, between Dakhil and Fazil. That is a school-level certificate, not the same as being an alim scholar. Check the board or institution for what a given certificate covers.

Alim, hafiz, qari, mufti

Questions people also ask

What is the female of alim?

Alimah.

What is the difference between an alim and a hafiz?

A hafiz has memorised the Quran. An alim has studied Islamic knowledge such as Arabic, hadith and fiqh. Some people are both.

What does Alim pass mean?

In the madrasah systems of Bangladesh and parts of India, Alim is a certificate level roughly alongside higher secondary school. It is different from the scholarly title alim.

Is an alim the same as an imam?

Not necessarily. An imam leads prayers and may or may not be an alim; many UK imams are.

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