Sheikh
Shaikh, also rendered as
Sheik,
Shaykh or
Sheikh (
Arabic:
شيخ), is a word in the
Arabic language meaning elder of a tribe, lord, revered old man, or
Islamic scholar. A daughter or wife of a Sheikh (lord) is sometimes called
Sheikhah (Arabic:
شيخة).
The term literally means a man of old age, and is used in that sense in
Qur'anic Arabic. Later it came to be a title meaning leader,
elder or
noble, especially in the
Arabian Peninsula, where
shaikh became a traditional title of a
Bedouin tribal leader in recent centuries.
The title is not only used by
Muslims; it is also used by
Arab Christians for elder men of stature, showing that it is independent of religion. It is also used to refer to scholars of various Islamic sciences such as
faqihs,
muftis, and
muhaddiths.
In
Sufism tariqah (orders), it is an honorific for an elder sufi who has been authorized by the order to teach, initiate and guide aspiring
dervishes. For more details please read
Shaykh of Sufism.
In the
Persian Gulf, the title is used for men of stature, whether they are managers in high posts, wealthy business owners, or local rulers.
For example, it was the term used in the West to refer to the
leaders of
Kuwait's ruling
al-Sabah dynasty, but the monarchic style was actually
Hakim (Arabic 'ruler') until
June 19,
1961, when Kuwait joined the
Arab League, and the title
Emir was adopted; similarly in
Bahrain and
Qatar. In fact it is used by every male member of all the Gulf royal houses.
It was also used in certain Islamic parts of
Africa, as in imperial
Ethiopia by the hereditary
Muslim rulers of
Bela Shangul, and by certain Muslim notables of
Wollo,
Tigray and
Eritrea.
The title is often more informally used to address learned men as a courtesy.
The family name "Shaikh" signifies
Arab ancestry in
South Asia. Shaikh is a multi-ethnic community in South Asia, found particularly in
Pakistan and
Bangladesh, and generally in
India.
Noted rock musician
Frank Zappa released an album entitled "
Sheik Yerbouti"
There was a song entitled "Sheik" on ZZ Top's 1973 album Tres Hombres.
*
Sheikhs in South Asia*
Meet Numerous Sheikhs A listing of Shi'ite Sheikhs
