Sheikh

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Sheikh, also rendered as Sheik, Cheikh, Shaikh, and other variants (Arabic: , shaykh; pl. و 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 lord, a revered wise man, or an Islamic scholar. Although the title generally refers to a male person, there existed in history also a very small number of female sheikhs.

Etymology and meaning

The word in Arabic stems from a triliteral root connected with age and ageing: ش-ي-خ, shīn-yā'-khāf. The term literally means a man of old age, and it 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. 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 Muslims 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 English "senator" is derived. Accordingly, the Arabic term for eg. the US Senate is majlis al-shuyukh, meaning the Senators' Council, but more literally the Council of Elders.

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 the Persian Gulf States 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.

In Lebanon, the title and its equivalent female form (shaykha) are commonly used when addressing members of the traditional 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 Bcharri casa), 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 four families. The other families that have this term (such as El-Dahdah,Gemayel, Harb)are second and third degree sheikhs, because unlike the above mentioned three families, they did not rule any territory in previous ages. Instead, they were high-ranking employees or secretaries (such as Hobeich (since 1567)of [[Ghazir) in the Ottoman Empire, or political followers of the rulers of the time, which provided them a certain financial status.

The Persian word "Shah" (King) is linguistically related to "Sheikh".{citation needed}

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 useda 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 Sheikh is sometimes called Sheikhah (Arabic: ). Although the title generally refers to a male person, there existed in history also a very small number of female sheikhs.{citation needed}

References

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

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Last updated on Sunday March 09, 2008 at 16:45:36 PDT (GMT -0700)
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