Sheikh

From Open Encyclopedia

Shaikh (Arabic: شيخ ),(also rendered as Sheik, Shaykh or Sheikh) is a word in the Arabic language meaning elder of tribe, lord or a revered old man.

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.

In Sufi tariqah (orders), it is an honorific for an elder sufi who has been authorized by the order to teach, initiate Dervishes (monks) and otherwise lead a sufi circle in a Dargah (monastery). In this sense, it is not restricted to sufi elders, but to any learned man in religion, such as Faqihs, Muftis, and Muhaddiths.

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.

Shaikh signifies Arab ancestory in South Asia. Shaikh is a multi-ethnic community in South Asia, found particularly in Pakistan and Bangladesh, and generally in India.

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