What Does Sheikh Mean?

Sheikh, also rendered as Sheik, Shaykh, Shaikh, Cheikh, 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.

The word sheikh is taken from the Arabic language. In the Arab of the Quran it meant a man of senior years originally and was supposed to mean a person of learning and knowledge that went with ones age. It is used these days in Arab speaking countries to refer to the leader of a tribe or a government official. The word boss is a contemporary example of how sheikh is used in Arabic speaking countries. It is used sometimes to convey the same meaning.

Technically speaking in the hierarchy relating to blood lines the title of Syed or belonging to the Prophets family, the next in line were those whose maternal line was Syed and then came sheikhs. In Shiite Islam the Moslem scholars or mullahs who wear black turbans are Syed while those who wear white ones are called sheikhs as a mark of respect.