lit., "sign of God," highest title in the Shii religious hierarchy

miraculous sign of God, the highest-ranking scholar of law in the "twelver" Shi'i religious hierarchy.

From the Arabic ayat Allah, meaning "sign of God," a high-ranking Twelver Shiite religious authority. In Iran, it refers to the nation's political and religious leader. Generally not used by Shiites in Arab countries or in India.

the highest rank in the Shi'ite hierarchy of scholars who are qualified to give independent judgment in religious matters.

a high-ranking Shiite religious leader who is regarded as an authority on religious law and its interpretation and who has political power as well

'Sign of God' - the most senior category of alim in Iran. From the ayatollahs is selected the Ayatollah al-Uzma, the chief ayatollah.

Religious leader of the Shiite community

Ayatollah (Arabic: آية الله; Persian: آيت‌الله); is a high ranking title given to major Shi'a clerics. The word means "Sign of God" and those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, and philosophy and usually teach in seminaries (Hawzas) of Islamic sciences. The next lower clerical rank is Hojjat-ol-Eslám ("Authority on Islam").