Akhoond

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An akhoond (akhund or akond) (Persian: آخوند‎) is a Persian name for a Muslim cleric, common in Iran and Azerbaijan. The Chinese word for imam, 阿訇 (Pinyin: ahong), used in particular by the Hui people, also derives from this term. Akhoonds are responsible for leading religious services in a community. Akhoonds lead the prayers in the mosques, deliver religious sermons and perform religious ceremonies, such as birth rites and funeral services. They also often teach in Islamic schools known in Iran as hozeh and in other countries as a madrassa.

Akhoonds will usually have completed some studies (of varying levels) in a madrassa, studying various Islamic and non-Islamic subjects, such as Sharia (Islamic law), Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), Qur'anic studies, and basic mathematics. They commonly dress in religious attire.

In Iran, they are also called mullahs, molavi or rohani. The word 'rohani' means 'spriritual' and is coined under the influence of Christianity. 'Rohani' is considered as a more polite term for Muslim clerics, used by Iranian national television and radio. The term Akhoond in Iran is increasingly outmoded, usually with only the older clerics having the title "Akhoond" as part of their name.

Other names for similar Muslim clerics include Shaykh and Maulana.

In the Swat valley, akhoonds (see Akhund of Swat) had been in political charge of the theocratic, non-permanent precursor of the State of Swat until it was made into a secular princely state in 1849, which was part of British India till 1947 and then of Pakistan, but only ceased to exist in 1969 at the death of its last Wali.