Final answer:
In 'I Am Malala', the term 'mufti' refers to a religious leader who is part of the ulama, responsible for interpreting Islamic law.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of the book 'I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban', when Malala refers to a "mufti", she is defining the term as a religious leader. The title 'The Mufti Who Tried to Close Our School' refers to an individual who is part of the ulama, which is a class of religious clerics and scholars who act as the primary interpreters of Islamic law (or sharia). The role of a mufti is to give religious edicts and opinions based on their knowledge of the sharia. This definition aligns with the traditional understanding of a mufti, which is a scholar who is qualified to issue legal opinions on matters of Islamic law (Sharia). Malala uses the term to describe a local cleric who opposed the education of girls in her village.