How many is 'many' out of all the fields of knowledge?

How many is 'many' out of all the fields of knowledge? Can having a small amount of knowledge of a small number of them make one an Allamah? How come these Allamahs do not have the knowledge of the subjects that were taught by the Holy Imam Ja'far Al Sadiq (a.s.)? Are they experts in the genealogy, chronology, pre-Islamic history and the poetry of the Arabs? A'alam (The Most Knowledgeable) Whatever that can possibly be learnt in matters of religion, this guy is supposed to know it.

He is regarded as the most knowledgeable among all the Ulamas and is a step ahead of the Allamahs. So he just sits there basking in the glory of being referred to as the A'alam on the presumption that no one is more knowledgeable that him. Maybe someone should remind him that Imam Mahdi (a.s.) is still around and that he (a.s.) has only gone into occultation.

But it is common knowledge among the Shiites that their Holy Imam (a.s.) is still alive and is their Divine Guide whose return from occultation is eagerly awaited. And so I have no choice but to conclude that 'the most knowledgeable one' is surely aware of this. He has therefore deliberately adorned himself with this title despite being aware that there is the person of the Holy Imam (a.s.) who is actually the A'alam.

QUESTIONS If the Ulamas are not the Ulamas, then what does that make the most knowledgeable of them all? Why has this 'A'alam' deliberately ignored the fact that in actual fact Imam Mahdi (a.s.) is more knowledgeable that he will ever be? Is he trying to tell us that Imam Mahdi (a.s.) does not actually exist and therefore he is now the A'alam? ALAM UL HUDA (THE BANNER OF GUIDANCE) Give me a break! This was one of the titles used by Imam Ali (a.s.).

How can anyone else use this title for himself I shall never know. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said: O Ali! You are the Banner of Guidance and the Light of Religion and that is the Light of Allah (s.w.t.) - Bihaar Ul Anwaar Vol 22 Incidentally this title is commonly used for Syed Murtadha, the pioneer Mujtahid of over a thousand years ago. He was a student of the Mu'tazilite teacher Asadabadi and started Ijtihad using the principles of Imam Shafei.

His brother Syed Razi (compiler of Nahj Ul Balagah) did not agree with him and refused to pray behind him. QUESTIONS As the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) used this title for Imam Ali (a.s.), then where is the justification of using it for ordinary people?