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Ayatollah vs Caliph - What's the difference?

ayatollah | caliph |

As nouns the difference between ayatollah and caliph

is that ayatollah is a religious leader in Twelver Shi'ism while caliph is the political leader of the Muslim world, successor of Muhammad's political authority, not religious or spiritual.

ayatollah

English

Alternative forms

* ayatolla

Noun

(wikipedia ayatollah) (en noun)
  • A religious leader in Twelver Shi'ism.

    • caliph

    English

    Alternative forms

    * calif, kalif, kaliph, khalif, khalifa

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The political leader of the Muslim world, successor of Muhammad's political authority, not religious or spiritual.
    • Ahmadis call their Caliph the Khalifatul Masih .

    Related terms

    * caliphate