As a result, the term "ālim" (ulamā) began to be used to describe a scholar in a general sense, particularly one who engages in intellectual processes. This shift in meaning has faced strong criticism from Ghazālī in his work Iḥyā.
As a result, the term "ālim" (ulamā) started to be applied more broadly to describe any scholar who engages in intellectual pursuits, particularly those involved in abstract thinking. This expansion of meaning has been met with criticism from Ghazālī in his work Iḥyā.