Ayatollah

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Ayatollah (UK: /ˌaɪəˈtɒlə/ or US: /ˌaɪəˈtoʊlə/; Persian: آیت‌الله, romanized: âyatollâh, Persian pronunciation: [ɒːjjætˌolˈlɒːh]) is an honorific title for high-ranking Twelver Shia clergy in Iran that came into widespread usage in the 20th century.^[1][2]

Originally used as a title bestowed by popular/clerical acclaim for a small number of the most distinguished marja' at-taqlid mujtahid, it suffered from "inflation" following the 1979 Iranian Revolution when it came to be used for "any established mujtahid".^[3] By 2015 it was further expanded to include any student who had passed their Mujtahid final exam,^[4] leading to "thousands" of Ayatollahs.^[5]

The title is not used by the Sunni community of Iran,^[1] nor by Shias in Lebanon, Pakistan, or India.^[1] In Iraq, the title is not unknown, but is only used for clerics of Iranian origin.^[1]

In the Western world – especially in decade after the Iranian Revolution – it was associated with Ruhollah Khomeini, who was so well known as to often be referred to as "The Ayatollah".