Aslamu alakum. I would like to ask a question about the order of scholars. Are there levels in islam to reach the highest level? Meaning from least to greatest, 1st da'ai, 2nd imam, 3rd shiekh, 4th scholar, and 5th mufti? thank you sooo much for your time and jazak Allah khair.

Alhamdu Lillah,

The titles you mentioned in your question do not have to be in the same order you set them in. Some of them might be included in other titles, partially or totally.

 Here is the definition of each of these titles in the same order:

1- Daa’yah: the one who preaches and calls others to Islam. He might be and might not be an Imam, Sheikh, Scholar, or Mufty.

 2- Imam: the one who leads the prayers regularly in the Masjid and delivers the Friday speeches. Obviously, he is a Da’ayah and Sheikh, but does not necessarily have to be a scholar or a Mufty. So Imam is the name of the job itself.

3- Sheikh: linguistically means an old man! But commonly means student of knowledge or knowledgeable person. He might be and might not be a scholar, mufty, or even an Imam.

4- Scholar: is the one who mastered one or more branch of the Islamic theology, such as Fiqh, Tafseer, Hadeeth, Aqeedah etc. He does not have to be an Imam, Mufty, or even Daa’yah.

5- Mufty; is the one who mastered Fiqh and its foundation, and answers the Fiqhy questions he receives from others. He is a scholar, but does not have to be an Imam or even Daa’yah.