shaykh

Shaykh (Arabic: شيخ) is an honorific title used in the Arabic-speaking world and beyond to address or refer to a respected elder, teacher, or leader. The word derives from the root meaning “elder” or “old man,” and its transliterations vary in English, including sheikh, shaykh, and sheik.

In Islamic contexts, a shaykh can denote a religious scholar or jurist, a respected teacher, or an imam. In Sufism, the term is often used for a spiritual master or lineage holder who guides disciples and preserves a particular spiritual line. Beyond religious roles, shaykh can also denote a tribal or community leader, especially in Arab and neighboring cultures.

Modern usage broadens the term to include leaders of mosques, respected public figures, or members of ruling families in some Gulf states and the Levant. It is frequently used as a courteous form of address for older men, sometimes independent of any formal ecclesiastical or political position.

The title is not a fixed rank with a universal authority; its significance is largely cultural and social, conveying respect for age, knowledge, or leadership. In different contexts, a shaykh may hold formal religious authority, be a community elder, or simply be addressed as a respected person. Variants of the spelling reflect transliteration differences, but the underlying concept remains a sign of esteem for a person regarded as wise, learned, or senior.