[Hamilcar_Barca]

What in the hell is a Hojatoleslam .....?

[Fred Nerks]

Hojatoleslam (from Arabic حجة الإسلام hujjat-ul-islām) is an honorific title meaning "authority on Islam" or "proof of Islam", given to all Shia clerics. It was originally applied only to leading mujtahids, but from about the start of the 19th century came to be used by all clerics following the creation of the title ayatollah for top Shia mujtahids. The title Hojatoleslam wal-muslemin (authority on Islam and Muslims) is given to middle-ranking clerics.