Etymology
The Persian language, Persian word () is from Middle Persian (, 'master, craftsman').Usage
The title precedes the name and was historically usually used for well-regarded teachers and Islamic art, artists. It can be used for any sort of master of an art or occupation; for example, an acknowledged master motorcycle mechanic would be addressed as ''ustad''. The term is also used by an apprentice (''shagird'') for their teacher. In Persian language, Persian and in the List of countries where Arabic is an official language, Arabic-speaking world, it also refers to a university professor. Ustad is only used for qualified Islamic scholars in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Southern Thailand where it is a direct equivalent of terms such as ''Shaykh al-Islām, shaykh'' in the Arab world, and ''mawlānā'' in the Indian Subcontinent. In the Maldives, the title ''al-usthaadh'' (އަލްއުސްތާޛު) or its abbreviation ''Uz.'' is used by people who are licensed to practice law.Ustad as a title in Hindustani classical music
Ustad (abbreviated as Ust. or Ut. or Ud. and from Persian language, Persian ) is an honorific title for an expert person in Indian classical singing and instrumental playing, used for a Muslim musician. It is used in Hindustani classical music to recognize master performers. It is used as a music title. An expert other than a Hindu musician is given the title of ustad. The title is awarded to musicians by their teachers, prominent individuals, or members of their gharana in recognition of their expertise. It is used in various languages including Hindi, Bengali language, Bengali, and Punjabi language, Punjabi. A Muslim woman who is an expert in Indian classical music is given the title of ''begum''; some examples include Begum Akhtar and Begum Parveen Sultana. Pandit#Pandit as a title in Hindustani classical music, ''Pandit'' is the equivalent title for a Hindu man, and ''Vidushi, Pandita, or Panditain f''or a Hindu woman.Usage
The title of ''ustad'' (and ''pandit'') is prepended informally to the names of classical singers and players by their admirers, individuals or institutions once they have reached eminence in their performing art, especially in public performances. As they are informal titles, mentioning the names of eminent singers without those appendages is acceptable, unlike prefixes like ''doctor'' awarded formally by educational institutions. The title ''ustad'' referring to a classical musician and the title ''ustad'' which is given to a knowledgeable person are different. There are many ''ustads'' in Hindustani classical music, for example, Ahmed Jan Thirakwa, Ustad Ahmed Jan Thirakwa, Ustad Alla Rakha, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez, Ustad Rashid Khan, Bismillah Khan, Ustad Bismillah Khan, etc. * Sher Shah Suri, Ustad-i-Badshahan, a title referring to Sher Shah Suri by the Mughal Empire * Ustad Ahmad Lahori, architect of the Taj MahalReferences
Further reading
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