Ayatollah

Ayatollah (UK: /ˌaɪəˈtɒlə/, also US: /ˌaɪəˈtoʊlə/; Arabic: آية الله, romanized: ʾāyatu llāh; Persian: آیت‌الله, romanized: âyatollâh [ɒːjjætˌolˈlɒːh]) is an honorific title for high-ranking Twelver Shia clergy. It came into widespread usage in the 20th century.

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". By 2015 it was further expanded to include any student who had passed their Mujtahid final exam, leading to "thousands" of Ayatollahs.

The title is not used by the Sunni community of Iran.

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

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