Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Salamum Alaikum!

Is the word "MOULANA" and "MOULA" appropriate if used for any human/religious scholar? As in the Quran :

Baqra 2.286 and Haj 22.78 etc it has used for Allah Subhana.
Kindly reply!  

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Allah name attribute and Is Moula Moulana appropriate

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Most of the Blessed Names of Allah or ‘asma-ul-husna’ are the exclusive Attributes of Allah Subhanah,  and it would be a form of shirk to call someone by those names.   For example,  Ar-Rahmaan ( The Beneficent),   Ar-Razzaak (The Provider),  Al-Khaliq ( The Creator),   Al-Mutakabbir ( The Majestic Greatest), etc.   These Attributes are the sole and exclusive right of Allah Subhanah.

 

Then among His Names are some attributes which Allah Subhanah has himself used for human beings.  For example Allah Subhanah has called  Prophet Mohamed’s (saws)  attribute towards the believers as ‘rauf’(kind)  and ‘raheem’ (merciful) in the Glorious Quran,   and Prophet Yusuf (a.s.) has been called himself ‘hafiz’ (one who preserves) and ‘aleem’ (knowing). 

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 128:

Now hath come unto you a Messenger (Prophet Mohamed (saws)) from amongst yourselves:  it grieves him that ye should perish:  ardently anxious is he over you:  to the believers is he ‘rauf’  (most kind) and ‘raheem’ (merciful).

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 12 Surah Yusuf verse 55:

(Yusuf (a.s.)) said:  "Set me over the storehouses of the land: I am a ‘hafiz’ (preserver)  and a ‘aleem’ (one that knows their importance)."

 

Although these names of Ar-Rauf,  Ar-Raheem, Al-Hafiz, Al-Aleem are the Attributes of Allah Subhanah,  they can also be used for human beings.   But when these attributes are used for human beings, their meaning will be measured and obviously not used in the same vastness and enormity in meaning as when the same names are used to describe the Noble Attributes of Allah Subhanah.

 

Similar is the Arabic term ‘Maula’, which depending on the context in which it is used has many meanings.  It literally means a friend, a patron, a master, or even a slave.  When ‘Maula’ is used for Allah Subhanah, it would be taken in its fullest and perfect context as a Friend, a Patron and a Supreme Master; but when used for one in creation its meaning would be measured and narrow.

 

Your Question: Is the word "MOULANA" and "MOULA" appropriate if used for any human/religious scholar?

There is absolutely no harm if one calls one in creation or a scholar as one’s ‘moula’ as a term of respect to mean one’s teacher, one’s friend, or one’s patron.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

Burhan