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Alim (s) / Ulema (pl)
OED Definition:
A body of Muslim scholars who are recognised as having specialist knowledge of Islamic sacred law and theology.
Term Variants: Aalim, Alim, Ulama, Ulema
How this term should be used
Whilst for some Muslims, “’’Aalim” “’Aalima” or “’Ulema” may have a technical meaning, for others, it is a self-identified descriptor. As such any usage of the term other than when it is defined by the individual him/herself, should be clearly explained.
The word Ulema (sing. ‘aalim: person of knowledge or ‘aalima: female person of knowledge) is used to refer to a person of knowledge or a scholar. Scholars can be of different levels, and in different schools of thought or branches of Islam, the hierarchy may work differently, with different titles for different levels of scholarship. “’Aalim”, “’Aalima” or even “Shaykh” are often catch-all terms that refer to any of these levels, although may be used with a technical meaning in certain circumstances.