The closest equivalent to a “Muslim priest” is usually called an imam , but Islam technically does not have priests or a priesthood like in Christianity.

Quick Scoop: Main Term

  • The person who leads the prayer in a mosque is called an imam , which literally means “one who leads.”
  • An imam typically:
    • Leads daily and Friday prayers
    • Gives the sermon (khutbah) on Fridays
    • Offers religious guidance to the community

So if someone asks “What is a Muslim priest called?”, the simple, everyday answer is: an imam.

Important Nuance: No “Priesthood” in Islam

  • Islam does not have an ordained priesthood that acts as a go‑between between people and God.
  • Any qualified Muslim (knowledgeable, upright, able to recite correctly) can lead the prayer as an imam; it’s a role, not a sacrament-based office.

Other Common Titles You Might Hear

Different cultures use other titles for learned or religious figures:

  • Shaykh / Sheikh – respected scholar or elder, often a religious teacher.
  • Maulana / Moulana , Mullah – titles for religious scholars or clerics in South and Central Asia and parts of the Middle East.
  • Mufti – a scholar qualified to issue legal opinions (fatwas).
  • Ustadh / Ustaz – “teacher,” used in many countries for religious teachers.

These aren’t “priests” either, but roles for people with Islamic learning and community responsibility.

Mini SEO-style note

  • Main keyword: what is a muslim priest called → common answer: imam , with the caveat that Islam has no formal priesthood.
  • Related terms people search/see in forums: imam vs mullah vs sheikh, “leader at a mosque,” “Muslim religious leader.”

TL;DR: There is no priesthood in Islam, but the person most people mean when they say “Muslim priest” is the imam , the one who leads prayers and gives sermons.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.