just want to know it's translation, and if possible the root meaning such as : Michael means "close to or like a god".
2007-03-21 14:41:32 · 6 answers · asked by intelligentandpassionate6825 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Ayatollah refers to shi'ite clerics, it's something like an arch-bishop or a cardinal among Christians.
Here's the root meaning:
Word Ayatollah is borrowed from Arabic, Persians also borrowed it but it's Arabic word. It literally means "sign of God", so it's sensitive to Sunnis and Christians when used in Arabic, and I haven't heard the word used during my stay i Saudi Arabia.
أية (ayat) = sign
الله (Allah) = God
if you want further root, word Allah (God) comes from word "ilah" - إله (god), someone being worshipped.
Singular of Ayatollah in Arabic is أية الله (ayatullah) and its plural is ayaatullah أيات الله . In English one is called ayatollah and more of them are ayatollahs.
In Persian it's written like this آيت الله but don't forget, it's not a Persian word it just has a great significance in Iran because it's a Shia country.
2007-03-21 16:07:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
The number one in charge.
It means...Sign of God
2007-03-21 14:49:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Go on a translator. First you need to know what lang. it's in
2007-03-21 14:55:08 · answer #3 · answered by Ember! 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Ayato-Allah > two words .
Ø¢Ùات اÙÙÙ
Ø¢Ùات = Ayat : (sorry not sure whats it in english!)
اÙÙÙ = Allah : God .
its a name . and not arabic, but Muslims use it like persians, Afghan, Pakistan.. and so .
2007-03-21 14:48:30 · answer #4 · answered by [Un]beloved 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I think it means most exalted one.
2007-03-21 15:22:46 · answer #5 · answered by 我比你聪明 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Ayatollah you so! ;)
2007-03-21 14:54:28 · answer #6 · answered by FUNdie 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋