Mawla
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mawlā
☪️Islamic Terms
Master, protector, or beloved; title of respect for Imam Ali and his descendants.
Full Definition
Mawla has multiple meanings including master, protector, patron, beloved, or friend. In Shi'a Islam, it is used as an honorific title for Imam Ali and other Imams. The declaration at Ghadir Khumm, 'Man kuntu mawlahu fa-Ali mawlah' (For whomever I am mawla, Ali is his mawla), is central to Shi'a understanding of succession.