Alim
/ˈɑː.lɪm/noun
A Muslim religious scholar, especially one learned in Islamic law and theology.
Did you know?Alim comes from the Arabic root ʿ-l-m, the same root behind ʿilm, meaning knowledge, and ulama, the collective body of Islamic scholars.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
ʿ-L-M
“A root associated with knowing, perceiving, or marking.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ʿilm
“Knowledge, learning, or awareness.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ʿālim
“A learned person or one possessing knowledge.”
Medieval Islamic period
Arabic
ʿālim
“A religious scholar trained in Islamic sciences, law, and theology.”
19th–20th Century
English
alim
“An English loanword for a Muslim religious scholar.”
Modern English
English
alim
“A Muslim religious scholar, particularly one learned in Islamic law and theology.”