Shaikhs in South Asia

''Shaikh'', also rendered as ''Sheikh'', ''Sheik'', ''Shaik'', ''Shaykh'', ''Shaikh'', ''Shekh'', ''Cheikh'', ''Šeih'', ''Šejh'', ''Şeyh'' and other variants (Arabic: , ''shaykh''; pl. ''shuyūkh''), is a title given to many South Asian Muslims. It originally was a word or honorific term in the Arabic language that commonly designated a chief of a tribe, royal family member, Muslim religious scholar, or "Elder". However in South Asia it was used as a title by groups that l had any Arab descent

Origin

In South Asia it is not just an ethnic title but an occupational title attributed to Muslim trading families. Many Shaikhs claimed to be descendants of Arabs, however some Shaikhs did not actually descend from Arabs . Hindus who converted to Islam and took the title ''shaikh'' tended to be of the Kshatriya varna, although use of the title was flexible. In the former Frontier Regions and Punjab of Pakistan, the title ''shaikh'' was often given to recent converts and not necessarily those of Arab descent. The Julaha weaver caste became Ansaris, who claimed to descend from Abu Ayub Al-Ansari. The butcher castes claimed to descend from the Quraysh tribe. The Kayastha record keeper caste became Siddiques, who claimed to descend from Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq.

A disparaging saying which attests to the flexibility of the title of ''shaikh'' stated: "Last year I was a Julaha (weaver); this year I am a sheikh; next year, if the crops are good, I shall be a Syed."

Sub-divisions

The subdivisions of the Shaikh include:
* Shaikh Qidwai, who claim to be descendants of the Qazi Qidwa, a son of the Sultans of Rum
* Shaikh Hashmi, who claim to be descendants 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 or Akhtar, who claim to be descendants of Abu Bakar, the first Khalifa of Islam. Actually are descendants of the Hindu Kayastha caste.
* Shaikh Usmani (Osmani), who claim to be descendants of Uthman Ibn Affan the third Khalifa of Islam
* Shaikh Farooqi, Honorific reverence to Umar Farooq Bin Al-Khattab
* Shaikh Narowali

See also

* Sheikh
* Shaikhzada
* Sindhi Shaikh
* Punjabi Shaikh
* Muslim Kayasths
* Kashmiri Shaikhs
* Gujarati Shaikh
* Rajasthani Shaikh
* Shaikh of Bihar
* Shaikh of Uttar Pradesh

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shaikhs In South Asia
Titles
Islamic culture
Social groups of Pakistan
Social groups of India
Muslim communities of India
Shaikh clans
Muhajir communities
Titles in Bangladesh