Malik

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Malik (Arabic: ملك ) is a word meaning "king" in Arabic, also adopted in various other oriental languages, also in derived meanings. Alternative forms are Malek and Melik. Malika means Queen in Arabic.

The cognate Hebrew word melech (מלך) has the same meaning, and the name of the pagan god Moloch is derived from the same linguistic root.

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[edit] Political

Primarily a Malik is the ruling Monarch of a kingdom, called mamlaka; that term is however also used in a broader sense, like realm, for rulers with another, generally lower titles, as in Sahib al-Mamlaka. The term is also used for tribal leaders, e.g. among the Pashtuns.

Although monarchy is sometimes viewed as a non-Islamic form of government, some Arab kingdoms are presently ruled by a Malik:

  • Bahrain, formerly under a Hakim al-Bahrayn {"Ruler of Bahrain"); from 16 August 1971 an Amirate; from 14 February 2002: Malik al-Bahrayn (King of Bahrain).
  • Jordan, formerly the Emirate of Transjordan
  • Morocco, formerly a Sultanate
  • Saudi Arabia, on 10 June 1916 the Grand Sharif of Mecca assumed the title of King of the Hejaz; from 29 October 1916 "King of the Arabs and Commander of the Faithful; from 6 November 1916 recognized by the allied powers only as King of the Hejaz, Commander of the Faithful, Grand Sharif and Emir of Mecca; also assumed the title of Caliph on 11 March 1924; from 3 October 1924: King of the Hejaz and Grand Sharif of Mecca; 22 September 1932 Hejaz and Nejd united as Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, full style: Malik al-Mamlaka al-`Arabiyya as-Sa'udiyya ("King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia"); from 1986 prefixed to the name: Khadim al-Haramayn ash-Sharifayn ("Servant (i.e. Protector) of the Two Exalted Holy Places [Mecca and Medina]").

Other historic realms under a Malik include:

  • Egypt, former khediviate and sultanate, from 16 March 1922 Malik Misr ("King of Egypt"); from 19 October 1951 Malik Misr wa's Sudan {"King of Egypt and the [Anglo-Egyptian] Sudan"); till the republic 18 June 1953
  • Iraq since 23 August 1921 Malik al-`Iraq till 2 May 1953
  • Libya only Idris I (b. 1890 - d. 1983) (Sayyid Muhammad Idris as-Sanusi) 24 December 1951 - 25 April 1963: Malik al-Mamlaka al-Libiyya al-Muttahida ("King of the United Libyan Kingdom"); then till 1 September 1969: Malik al-Mamlaka al-Libiyya ("King of the Libyan Kingdom").
  • Maldives (after 1965): Jala'ala ul-Malik, i.e. King and the style of His Majesty; previous rulers were styled: Sultan of Land and Sea and Lord of the twelve-thousand islands, holding both the Arabic title of Sultan and the more ancient Divehi title of Maha Radun or Ras Kilege
  • the Nabhani dynasty since 1154 in Oman, later an imamate/ sultanate
  • Yemen, formerly imamate, about 2 until 27 September 1962, and in dissidence to March 1970: Imam al-Muslimin, Amir al-Mu'minin, Malik al-Mamlaka al-Mutawakkiliyya al-Yamaniyya ("Imam of the Muslimin, Amir of the Faithful, King of the Mutawakkili Yemeni Kingdom").

In Mughal and colonial India, the princely state of Zainabad was ruled by a Malek Shri (Shri is a merely emphatical honorific, without intrinsic meaning).

The title Malik has also been used, including in other languages that have adopted Arabic loanwords (mainly, not exclusively, in Muslim cultures), for various princely or lower ranks and functions.

  • In (miaphysite) Armenia, the title of Melik was bestowed upon princes who ruled various principalities in Armenia, often referred to as Melikdoms.
  • In (orthodox) Georgia, among the numerous Grandees:
    • in fourth class, (Sul-didibuli-tavadi) of the Kingdom of Kartli, commanders of banners (drosha), sixth and last in that class, the Malik of Somkheti (Somkheti-meliki).
    • in the sixth class, Grandees of the second class (mtavari) of the Kingdom of Kartli, ranking first of the second subclass, Grandees under the Prince of Sabaratiano: the Malik of Lori, head of the house of Melikishvili.

The word Malik may also be used in Arabic to denote foreign rulers, for instance the chronicler Baha al-Din Ibn Shaddad refers to King Richard I of England as 'Malik al-Inkitar'.

[edit] Military

Like many princely titles, it has also been used as a military rank, notably in certain decimally organized Muslim armies in India, a high rank commanding 10.000 horseman (each 1000 commanded by an Amir), ten Maliks serving under a Khan

[edit] Supernatural

  • It is also one of the "99 Names of Allah", and is then al-Malik (الملك) or The King in the absolute sense (denoted by the definite article), meaning the King of Kings, above all earthly rulers.
  • The related Hebrew word mal'ach (מלאך) is the Biblical word for angel.

[edit] Compound and derived titles

  • Malika is the female derivation, a term of Arabic origin used in Persia as the title for a Queen consort (i.e. not ruling, which no Islamic state's tradition does allow to women). Frequently also used as part of a lady's name, e.g. Malika-i-Jahan 'Queen of the World'.
  • Sahib us-Sumuw al-Malik (female Sahibat us-Sumuw al-Malik) is an Arabic title for His/Her Royal Highness, notably for Princes in the dynasty of the Malik of Egypt

The following components are frequently part of titles, notably in Persian (also used elsewhere, e.g. in India's Moghol tradition):

  • - ul-Mulk (or ul-Molk): - of the kingdom; e.g. Malik Usman Khan, who served the Sultan of Gujarat as Governor of Lahore, received the title of Zubdat ul-Mulk 'best of the kingdom' as a hereditary distinction, which was retained as part of the style of his heirs, the ruling Diwans (only since 1910 promoted to Nawab) of Palanpur.
  • - ul-Mamaluk (plural of ul-mulk): - of the kingdoms.

In the great Indian Muslim salute state of Hyderabad, a first rank- vassal of the Mughal padshah (emperor) imitating his lofty Persian court protocol, the word Molk became on itself one of the titles used for ennobled Muslim retainers of the ruling Nizam's court, in fact the third in rank, only below Jah (the highest) and Umara, but above Daula, Jang, Nawab, Khan Bahadur and Khan; for the Nizam's Hindu retainers different titles were used, the equivalent of Molk being Vant.

[edit] Other uses

By analogy, the word malik is also used in the weaker meaning of 'chief' in various modest titles, such as, in Persian:

  • Malik ul-Shu'ara: 'King of the Poets',, i.e. poet laureate.
  • Malik ul-Tujjar: 'King of the Merchants', an office held by the head of the merchant community in each town or city.

In the Punjab, "Malik" was one of the titles used by local aristocrats, more formally known as Zamindars, under both the Mughals and the British, and to some degree still in present-day Pakistan.

Like many prestigious titles, Malik or Malek is a common element is first and family names, usually without any aristocratic meaning. For example, Malik is a large community in Pakistan with Arab heritage. Malik is used both as title and surname in Pakistan.

[edit] Modern cultural references

  • Malik was the leader of the Augments in a three-episode arc of Star Trek: Enterprise, starting with "Borderland", continuing with "Cold Station 12", and ending with "The Augments".
  • Malik is the name of a character from the Japanese animated series Yu-Gi-Oh!. Malik is depicted as an Egyptian whose clan guards the tomb of the Pharaoh from grave robbers. He seeks to obtain the power of the Pharaoh.
  • Malik was the name of a powerful ancient vampire in a game based on the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He has the ability to transform into a ferocious beast resembling a sabre-toothe tiger.
  • Malik is also the name of one of the Prophets in the game Wild Arms 3. He is shown as youthful and agile, and, during the course of the game, is searching for a way to resurrect his mother.
  • House al-Malik is one of the five major houses in the Fading Suns universe.
  • In the Legacy of Kain video game series, Malik is a member of "The Circle of Nine", a group of sorcerers directly linked to nine aspects of existence. Malik is the guardian of the other sorcerers and represents the world's conflict. In Blood Omen, the first in the series, we see him robbed of flesh and bound to his armour; though he can be seen in human form in later games.
  • In Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad, Malik is one of the main characters. He is cursed by Mystra, the god of magic, so that he cannot lie. He is also "chosen" of his god Cyric who is "The Prince of Lies".
  • In the video game Knights of the Old Republic, Darth Malak is the ruler of the expansionary Sith Empire.
  • Malak Golthana is a character in Final Fantasy Tactics. His Job class is "Hell Knight" and he also possesses the "Untruth" skills.
  • The "Token Black Guy" from Not Another Teen Movie is named Malik. He is actually very intelligent and would rather have a civilized conversation with someone, but usually either just gives in and accepts his stereotype, or plays by it most of the way through: "I'm just supposed to smile and stay out of the conversation, and say things like 'Damn', 'Shit', and 'That is whack!'" "I'm only in this song because I'm a black guy!"
  • Malik Yardbirds is the name of the Minerva's pilot from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny.

[edit] Famous People named Malik

Where Malik is a surname:

Where Malik is a given name:

[edit] People named Malek

[edit] Sources, references and external links

[edit] See also

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