Sheikh

Sheikh, also rendered as Sheik, Cheikh, Sjeik, Shaykh, Shaikh, Sheyh, Šeih, Šejh, Şeyh and other variants (Arabic: شيخ‎, shaykh; pl. شيوخ‎ shuyūkh), is a word or honorific term in the Arabic language that literally means "elder". It is commonly used to designate an elder of a tribe, a revered wise man, or an Islamic scholar. Although the title generally refers to a male, a very small number of female sheikhs have also existed in history.

It also refers to a man over 40^[1] or 50^[2] years old generally. While even a new Muslim can be called a sheikh if he is diligent in seeking the knowledge of Islam based upon the Quran and authentic Sunnah, he can be referred to as such by those he teaches. And usually a person is known as a sheikh when they have completed their undergraduate university studies in Islamic studies and are trained in giving lectures.^[1]. The word sheikh under this meaning is a synonym of Alim, pl. Ulema, (a learned person in Islam, a scholar)^[3], Mawlawi, Mawlana, Muhaddith, Faqih, Qadi, Mufti, Hadhrat or Hafiz.

Etymology and meaning

The classical image of a 'sheikh': Sheikh Sattam de Haddadin of Palmyra, by Russian painter Alexandr Evgenievich Yacovleff.

The word in Arabic stems from a triliteral root connected with age and ageing: ش-ي-خ, shīn-yā'-khā'. The term literally means a man of old age, and it is used in that sense of all men 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. Due to the cultural impact of Arab civilization, and especially through the spread of Islam, the word has gained currency as a religious term or general honorific in many other parts of the world as well, notably in Muslim cultures in Africa and Asia.

While the title can be used religiously by Tovars to designate a learned person, as an Arabic word it is essentially independent of religion. It is notably used by Druze for their religious men, but also by Arab Christians for elder men of stature. Its usage and meaning is similar to the Latin senex meaning "old [man]", from which the Latin (and English) "senator" is derived. Accordingly, the Arabic term for most legislative bodies termed Senate (e.g. the United States Senate) is majlis al-shuyūkh, literally meaning "Council of Senators."

As a secular honorific

The title is sometimes more informally used to people who have a certain financial or political influence, but especially in relation to royalty and other nobility.

In Arabian Peninsula region

In the Arabian Peninsula 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, even though the monarchic style was actually Hakim (Arabic 'ruler') until June 19, 1961, when Kuwait joined the Arab League, and the title Emir was adopted. The same applied to Bahrain and Qatar. The term is used by almost every male member of all the Gulf royal houses with the exception of Saudi Arabia and Oman.

In Pakistan region

In Pakistan the title is used for a cast (Community) well reputed and respected, mainly involved in business. Many of the popular personalities in Pakistan have been from Sheikhs.

In Lebanon

In Lebanon, the title and its equivalent female form (shaykha) are commonly used when addressing members of the traditional noble Christian feudal families such as, in chronological order of the Maronite families who first had this title bestowed upon them: El-Hachem (Hashemite) of Akoura (since 1523, ruled the current Jbeil casa and the north till the Sir El Donnieh region), El-Khazen (since 1545, ruled the Kiserwan area) and El Douaihy of Zgharta. The term sheikh is known to have been bestowed upon the families who battled with the Emir Fakhr al-Din in the historical battle of Anjar. Note that the term is not used for the seven traditional Beiruti families, but primarily for the above-mentioned three families. The other families that have this term (such as El-Dahdah, Gemayel, El-Khoury.....) did not rule any territory in previous ages. Instead, they were high-ranking employees or makhatir or secretaries (kouttab) (such as Hobeich (since 1567) of Ghazir) in the Ottoman Empire, or political 'allies' of the rulers at that time, which provided them a certain financial status.

Indeed, the title (sheikh) is common within the Druze Community as well and is mainly used when addressing members of traditional Druze feudal families ("Iqtaaiyin") such as Imad which played historically an important role during the Ottman-regime and the conflict of 1860 in Mount Lebanon Chouf Region. In The "Gharb Region" of Mount Lebanon, Families such Talhuq and Abd El Malek were a cornerstone of the Ottman control strategy during the sixteenth,seventeenth until the nineteenth century.

In South Asia

In Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and other parts of South Asia, the title Shaikh signifies Arab descent however native Sheikhs are the descendent of high caste brahman, rajput or Khatri clans who were converted to Islam by sufi missionaries. The Muslims of Middle East and Central Asia have historically, travelled to South Asia as Sufis during the Islamic Sultanates and Mughal Empire and settled permanently and assumed Shaikh status.

Religious usage

The term is often used by Muslims to address learned men of various Islamic sciences, such as faqihs, muftis, and muhaddiths, and more generally to convey respect for religious authorities. In Sufism tariqah (orders), it is often used as an honorific for an elder Sufi who has been authorized by the order to teach, initiate and guide aspiring murids & dervishes, as such, he is also known as, in Arabic, as a formal Murshid (lit: Guide).

The term is and/or 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.

For women

A daughter or wife of a shaykh is sometimes called shaykhah (Arabic: شيخة‎). Currently, the term shaykhah is commonly used for females of rich families, especially ruling families, in Arab countries.

Surname

In South Asia, such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, "Shaikh" is a common surname among direct descendants of the royal Mughul Empire, or more generally, it signifies Arab ancestry. It was also extensively used by the high class Brahmins. Rajputs or Khatris after conversion to Islam.

See also

• Shaikhs in South Asia
• Punjabi Shaikh
• Kashmiri Shaikh
• Khawaja Shaikh
• Qanungoh Shaikh
• Siddiqui
• Shaikh Siddiqui
• Shaikh Quraishi
• Qallu

Notes

Thakkar Shaikh

References

• Shaikh Siddiqui
• History of El Douaihy
• History of the Maronites and Lebanon
• "History of Lebanon" by Kamal Salibi