AkhundAkhund (akhoond, akhwand, akhand) (آخوند) is a Persian title or surname for Islamic scholars, common in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Azerbaijan. Other names for similar Muslim Scholar include Sheikh and Mullah. The Standard Chinese word for Imam (), used in particular by the Hui people, also derives from this term. Other similar Chinese terms ( and ) also exist. Akhunds are religious and spiritual leaders. They lead the prayers in the mosques, deliver religious sermons, perform religious ceremonies such as milad, marriage rituals, birth rituals etc.
PanthaysPanthays (; ) form a group of Chinese Muslims in Myanmar. Panthays are one of the oldest group of Muslims in Burma. The exact proportion of the Chinese Muslim group in the local Chinese population remains unknown due to a lack of data. However, they are concentrated particularly in the northern part of Myanmar- closer to Yunnan, China from where the Panthays historically originated. They particularly reside in the Tangyan-Maymyo-Mandalay-Mogok-Taunggyi area and the Shan States The name Panthay is a Burmese word, which is said to be identical with the Shan word Pang hse.
