Neha Patil (Editor)

Shaikhs in South Asia

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

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Foreign Muslim origin

In South Asia, the term Shaikh may refer to immigrants from middle eastern origins but they are a tiny minority and exist mostly in Pakistan and regions of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.The Shaikh title is used by Arab and other Muslim immigrants who settled in areas of South Asia. Sufi and other migrants from the Middle East and Central Asia also attained the title 'Shaikh'.

However, Farooqis are also an honorific title related to Nizams in Uttar Pradesh.

Sub-divisions

The subdivisions of the Shaikh include:

  • Shaikh Quraishi, members of the Banu Quraish tribe. The Islamic prophet, Muhammad, belonged to this tribe.
  • Shaikh Hashmi, members of the Banu Hashim clan of the Banu Quraish tribe. The Islamic prophet, Muhammad belonged to this clan. Usually carry the title Sayyid or Sharif.
  • Shaikh Siddiqui, descendants of Hazrat Abu Bakr, the first Khalifa of Islam.
  • Shaikh Usmani (Osmani), descendents of Hazrat Usman the third Khalifa of Islam
  • Shaikh Ansari, descendants of the Ansar tribes of Madina Munawwara many who were loyal companions to the Prophet Muhammad

    • Prominent People

  • Sachal Sarmast, Sufi Saint.
  • Javed Sheikh, Pakistani Actor.
  • Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Indian actor.
  • Emraan Hashmi, Indian actor.
  • Huma Qureshi, Indian actress.
  • Shakeel Siddiqui, Pakistani comedian, stage artist and performer.
  • Farooq Sheikh, Indian actor (Bollywood and theatre), television presenter and philanthropist.
  • Shaikh Ayaz, Sindhi poet of Pakistan.

    • References

    Shaikhs in South Asia Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA