cheikh

Cheikh is an honorific derived from the Arabic word شيخ (shaykh), meaning elder, leader, or venerable person. In religious contexts, it designates a respected Islamic scholar, jurist, or teacher. In Sufi orders it is used for the spiritual guide who mentors disciples and transmits teachings. The term is also used more broadly as a mark of respect for tribal or community leaders.

Spelling varies by language and colonial influence. English-language texts often render it as Sheikh, Shaikh, or Shaykh; French-language areas commonly use Cheikh. In Arabic script it is شيخ. The title is widely used across the Arab world and in Muslim-majority regions of Africa, especially North and West Africa, and among the diaspora. In West Africa, cheikh figures frequently function as religious teachers or marabouts, sometimes leading zawiyas or congregations. In modern usage, Cheikh can appear as a given name or part of a personal name and as a title before a name.

Notable people associated with the title include Cheikh Anta Diop, a Senegalese historian and anthropologist, among other scholars and spiritual leaders known by the honorific. Beyond individuals, the term remains a common label in communities for recognized elders, scholars, and guides in various Islamic traditions.