Ayatollah (āyatollāh from, āyatu l-Lāh "Signs of God", āyah (plural: ayat) and Allah)'s a high ranking title given to Usuli Twelver Shī‘ah clerics. Those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, and philosophy and usually teach in Islamic seminaries. The next lower clerical rank's Hojatoleslam wal-muslemin. Rank The title's currently granted to top Shia mujtahid, after completing sat'h and kharij studies in the hawza.… (More on Ayatollah)