"The status and the fucntion of the Ulema in the Muslim community have seldom been properly understood by non-Muslims scholars. Superficial observers have thought that the Ulema correspond to priests withoit a church; hence, they consider the presence of priesthood in Islam inevitable. The Ulema are venerated for their learning and piety, hence also they are taken to be priests."

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“I. H. Qureshi: Ulema in Politics, Renaissance Publishing House, Delhi, 1985”

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