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Ayatullah. Hujjatulla.
Sulaiman: It is noticed that you liberally use various titles and honorifics for your scholars and Mujtahids. Can you explain them?
Ja’far: It is human psychology that we are thankful to those who have bestowed some favours upon us. One respects such a personality and addresses him in words of respect. Such a phenomenon is especially common among the world of politics where we find the masses addressing the leaders and kings with exaggerated titles. Sometimes they even exceed the limits of decency.
The traditions state that the angels spread their wings beneath the feet of scholars and Allah leads to Paradise those who tread the path of knowledge. The Holy Quran also relates the fear of Allah to knowledge:
"Only the knowledgeable fear Allah from among His servants."
(Surah Fatir 35:28)
The title of Ayatullah (sign of Allah) befits the scholars of religion who have reached the status of Mujtahid. The Holy Quran has used the term Ayatullah even for non-living things and animals:
"…this is (as) Allah’s she-camel for you – a sign…"
(Surah Araaf 7:73)
"And of His signs are the night and the day and the sun and the moon…"
(Surah Ha Mim 41:37)
"Therefore We sent upon them widespread death, and the locusts and the lice and the frog and the blood, clear signs."
(Surah Araaf 7:133)
What do think of those who had undergone great labours for deriving the laws of Shariat that are a light and guidance for the world? Ayatullah is that characteristic and sign of these labours.
And Hujjatullah means the Proof of Allah. He is the proof and argument. Verily those who possess piety and knowledge of religion and serve Islam and Muslims clearly deserve to be addressed with the title of Hujjatullah.
