a trained mullah will have studied the traditional Islamic sciences not limited to: Classical Arabic Nahw (syntax) Sarf (word morphology) Balaaghah (rhetoric) Shi'r (poetry) Adab (literature) Tarikh (history) Islamic law (fiqh) Rulings pertaining to their school of jurisprudence and the rulings of other schools of jurisprudence The principles of jurisprudence pertaining to their school of jurisprudence and the principles of other schools of jurisprudence The evidences of their school of thought for principles and rulings, the evidences of others, how they differ and why Islamic traditions (hadith) Exegesis The principles of exegesis Aqidah (Islamic creed) Mantiq (logic) Ilm-ul-Kalaam (philosophy) (Quran) The meanings of the Quran Exegesis the principles and rules of Quranic exegesis Tasawwuf (Sufism) Some mullahs will specialise in certain fields after completing the above foundational studies. Common specialties are: Iftah – after which they qualify as a mufti and can issue a fatwa (legal ruling) Takhasus fil Hadith – specialisation in hadith studies Takhasus fil Aqidah – specialisation in aqidah studies Such figures often have memorized the Quran and historically would memorise all the books they studied. However in the modern era they instead memorise the founding books of each field (sometimes in the form of poetry to aid memorisation). Uneducated villagers may frequently classify a literate Muslim with a less than complete Islamic training as their "mullah" or religious cleric. Mullahs with varying levels of training lead prayers in mosques, deliver religious sermons, and perform religious ceremonies such as birth rites and funeral services. They also often teach in a type of Islamic school known as a madrasah. Three kinds of knowledge are applied most frequently in interpreting Islamic texts (i.e. the Quran, hadiths, etc.) for matters of Sharia, i.e., Islamic law. Mullahs have frequently been involved in politics, but only recently have they served in positions of power, since Islamists seized power in Iran in 1979. In Syria, political militant groups supported by the West have taken root. Dress The dress of a Mullah usually consists of a turban ({عمامه} ammāme), a long coat with sleeves and buttons, similar to a cassock ( qabā), and a long gown or cloak, open at the front ( abā). The aba is usually made either of brown wool or of black muslin. It is sleeveless but has holes through which the arms may be inserted. The turban is usually white, but those who claim descent from the prophet Muhammad