An Allamah (Arabic and Persian: علامه), also spelled Allameh and Allama, is an honorary title carried by only the very highest scholars (marjas) of Islamic thought, jurisprudence, and philosophy. While normally used as an honorific in TwelverShia Islam, it is used in its linguistic meaning by some Sunnis. Sir Muhammad Iqbal, architect of Modern Pakistan is referred to, for example, as Allamah Iqbal. Some Sunnis who have achieved the rank of a scholarship in several disciplines are often referred to by the title. In Shia rank, those holding the title "allamah" surpass all other clerics such as Ayatollahs and Hojatoleslams. Currently, marjas are accorded the title Grand Ayatollah (Arabic/Persian: آيةالله العظمی Ayatollah al-Uzma).
In any given generation, there are only a few Allamahs.
