In some countries, it is given as asurname to those of great knowledge in religious affairs, by a prestigious religious leader from achain ofSufi scholars. The word is mentioned in theQur'an in three places: verse 72 ofHud, 78 ofYusuf, and 23 ofal-Qasas.
A royal family member of theUnited Arab Emirates and some other Arab countries, also has this title, since the ruler of each emirate is also the sheikh of their tribe.[2]
The word in Arabic stems from atriliteral root connected with aging:ش-ي-خ,shīn-yā'-khā'. The title carries the meaning leader,elder, ornoble, especially in theArabian Peninsula within theTribes of Arabia, whereShaikh became a traditional title of aBedouin tribal leader in recent centuries. Due to the cultural impact ofArab 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 inMuslim cultures inAfrica andAsia.[citation needed]
InSufism (tasawwuf), the wordshaikh is used to represent a spiritual guide who initiates a particular order (tariqa) which leads toMuhammad, although manysaints have this title added before their names out of respect from their followers. A couple of prominent examples are SheikhAbdul Qadir Jilani, who initiated theQadiriyya order, and SheikhAhmad al-Tijani, who initiated theTijaniyyah Sufi order.[3]
In Lebanon, the title had the same princely and royal connotation as in the Arabian peninsula until theOttoman invasion in 1516, since it represented anindigenous autonomous "sui iuris" ruler or tribal chief.[4] Examples of some ancient families that hold the title of "sui iuris" sheikh is theAl-Chemor family, ruling since 1211 CE inKoura andZgharta until 1747 CE[5][6] and the Boudib family (descendants of theHashemite family) who wereEhdenian rulers ofJebbeh since 1471 CE until 1759 CE. The descendants of this sovereign family now live inMiziara, Mexico and Nigeria.[7] Even the Abu Harmoush family heads, which ruled theChouf region until theBattle of Ain Dara in 1711 CE, were "sui iuris" sheikhs. After the Ottoman rule and the implementation of theIltizam system, the title gained anoble instead of royal connotation, since it was bestowed by a higher authority; in this case the Ottoman appointedEmir, who was nothing more than a mültezim or tax collector for theempire.[8] Some very influentialMaronite families, who had the title bestowed upon them, are (in chronological order): the El Hachem of Akoura (descendants of theHashemite family, since 1523), theEl-Khazen (since 1545), the Hubaysh ofKisrawan and theDouaihy ofZgharta. Other families who are nowadays addressed or known as "sheikhs" were not traditionally rulers of provinces, but instead they were high-ranking officials at the service of the Emir at that time.
In theMaghreb, during theAlmohad dynasty, the caliph was also counseled by a body of sheikhs. They represented all the different tribes under their rules, includingArabs, (Bedouins),Andalusians andBerbers and were also responsible for mobilizing their kinsmen in the event of war.[9]
InIndonesia and other parts ofSoutheast Asia, sheikhs are respected by local Muslims. InIndonesia, the term is usually spelled "syech", and this is usually attributed to elderlyulama. Higher knowledgeable people of Islamic studies in Indonesia are usually referred to as "ustad" or "kyai".[citation needed]
From the perspective of Iran, the word or title of sheikh possesses diverse meanings, among individuals who are aged and wise, it has been an honorific title used for elders and learned scholars, such as: Sheikh al-RayeesAbu Ali Sina, SheikhMufid, SheikhMorteza Ansari. In the past, Islamic scholars who were the Muhammad's descendants, were calledSayyid/Seyyed instead of sheikh.[16]
A daughter, wife or mother of a sheikh is also called ashaykhah. Currently, the termshaykhah is commonly used for women of ruling families in the Arab states of the Arabian Peninsula.[20]
^Abun-Nasr, Jamil M. (2007).Muslim Communities of Grace: The Sufi Brotherhoods in Islamic Religious Life. Columbia University Press. p. 94.ISBN978-0-231-14330-1.
^A House of Many Mansions: The History of Lebanon Reconsidered, 2001, Kamal Salibi
