Sheikh (
Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...
and ur, شيخ), is an Arabic word meaning elder of a tribe, lord, revered old man, or
Islamic scholar
In Islam, the ''ulama'' (; ar, علماء ', singular ', "scholar", literally "the learned ones", also spelled ''ulema''; feminine: ''alimah'' ingularand ''aalimath'' lural are the guardians, transmitters, and interpreters of religious ...
. The Shaikh of
Sindh are one of the larger communities of the
Sindhi Muslims ethnic group. They speak the various dialects of
Sindhi, depending on their place of residence. The Shaikh are largely an urban community, residing in the towns and cities of Sindh. Shaikhs have different community in them, namely baghdadi, sanjogi, nangani, deewan and chatani.
[Gazetteer of West Pakistan, the Former Province of Sind Including Khairpur State. Gazetteer Cell, Board of Revenue, Lahore 1968 by H. T Sorely]
Origin
In
South Asia
South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical
Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth descr ...
, it is used as an ethnic title generally attributed to Muslim trading families.
Notable people
* Khan Bahadur Shaikh
Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah KCSI, Pakistani politician from Sindh, first Chief Minister of Sindh (1937–1938), fifth Chief Minister of Sindh (1942–1947), first muslim Governor of Sindh (1947–1948)
*
Shaikh Ayaz
Shaikh Ayaz SI ( ur, , ) born Mubarak Ali Shaikh ( ur, , ) (March 1923 – 28 December 1997) was Sindhi language poet, prose writer and former Vice Chancellor of University of Sindh. He is counted as one of the prominent and great Sindhi po ...
, Sindhi poet of Pakistan
*
Marium Mukhtiar (1992–2015), first lady pilot of Pakistan, died while on duty
*
Najmuddin Shaikh, former Foreign Secretary, Pakistan
*
Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh, MPA Shikarpur Pakistan people's party PS 11
References
Sindhi tribes
Social groups of Sindh
Shaikh clans
Surnames
Social groups of Pakistan
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