Part of: Madrasah life and learning
GlossaryWhat does ustadh mean?
Ustadh (also ustaz) is the Arabic word for teacher, used as a respectful title for a male madrasah or Quran teacher. A female teacher is an ustadha. In South Asian-heritage madrasahs, children may also say Molvi Sahib or Hafiz Sahib for men, and Apa or Aapa for women.
Handmade leather madrasah bag, coming soonRegister interest
Looking for a bag for your child’s Quran and books? See the handmade leather madrasah bag.
Common teacher titles in UK madrasahs
| Title | Used for |
|---|---|
| Ustadh / Ustaz | A male teacher (Arabic) |
| Ustadha / Ustadhah | A female teacher (Arabic) |
| Molvi Sahib / Maulana | A male teacher or scholar (South Asian usage) |
| Hafiz Sahib / Qari Sahib | A teacher who is a hafiz or a trained reciter |
| Apa / Aapa / Alimah | A female teacher (South Asian usage) |
| Sheikh | A senior scholar |
Ustadh, ustaz, ustad and ustadhi: spelling variants
These all come from the same Arabic word, أستاذ. The spelling changes with the language and region:
- Ustadh or ustaadh: the usual English transliteration of the Arabic.
- Ustaz: common in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, and among many UK Muslims of South-East Asian heritage.
- Ustad: used in Urdu, Persian and Hindi, where it can also mean a master of any craft or art, not only a religious teacher.
- Ustadhi: the form used in Swahili-speaking communities.
- Ustadha or ustadhah: a female teacher. The Arabic plural for teachers is asatidhah.
Ustadh, sheikh, imam and mufti
An ustadh is a teacher. A sheikh is a senior scholar or elder. An imam leads the prayer. A mufti is a trained scholar who gives rulings (fatwas). One person can hold more than one of these roles, but the words mean different things.
Gifts for teachers
End of term, Eid and a child's Ameen are common times to thank a madrasah teacher. See gifts for madrasah teachers.
Questions people also ask
What is a female ustadh called?
An ustadha (or ustadhah).
What does ustadh mean in Islam?
It means teacher. In Islamic settings it is a respectful title for a teacher of the Quran, Arabic or the Islamic sciences.
Is ustaz the same as ustadh?
Yes. Ustaz is a regional spelling of the same Arabic word, common in South-East Asia.
What is the plural of ustadh?
Asatidhah in Arabic. In English people usually say ustadhs or just teachers.
More on madrasah life and learning
← The parent's guide to madrasah: the full topic guide
- Preparing your child for the first day at madrasah
- What to pack for madrasah and the mosque
- What is a madrasah?
- What is a maktab?
- What is a Qaidah?
- What is tajweed?
- What is hifz?
- Sabaq, sabqi and manzil: the hifz system explained
- What is a topi?
- My child doesn't want to go to madrasah
- Child struggling with the Qaidah
- Child reading the Quran too fast
- Child forgetting what they've memorised
- No time to practise the Quran at home
- Losing the Quran habit after Ramadan
- Madressa bag checklist for the new term
- Mosque bag for Jummah and Taraweeh: what to bring
- How to choose a Quran for a child
- Madrasah in Ramadan: what changes
- Walking to madrasah: carrying a shoulder bag comfortably
- The madrasah run: a bag routine for busy car journeys
- What does ustadha mean?