Aalim (; plural: Ulama) in its original meaning is known as a scholar. More specifically, in Sunni Islam, an aalim is regarded as the one who protects and explains religious knowledge of Islam. Ulama are educated in religious schools called madrasas. By tradition, a student who had completed his studies was accepted by his teacher. The student was given the permission for teaching and for giving lawful opinions, called fatwa. Through time, this practice established a chain of teachers and pupils.