Ayatollah (āyatollāh from, āyatu l-Lāh "Sign of God") is 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 is Hojatoleslam wal-muslemin. Rank The title is currently granted to top Shia mujtahid, after completing sat'h and kharij studies in the hawza. By then he'd be able to issue his… (More on Ayatollah)