Sheikh (pronounced  /ˈʃiːk/ SHEEK or /ˈʃeɪk/ SHAYK; Arabic: شيخ‎ šayḫ, mostly pronounced [ʃeːx], plural شيوخ šuyūḫ) — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor". It is commonly used to designate the front man of a tribe who got this title after his father, or an Islamic scholar who got this title after graduating from the basic Islamic school. Sheikha is the female equivalent, although these are uncommon in the Arabic world. A sheikh who is wise is called ḥakīm adjective (wise) حكيم‎, ḥākim noun (governor) حاكم‎, yaḥkum verb (govern) يحكم‎; and can govern. The scholar sheikh here can govern but cannot lead directly because the leader is the imam which is based upon the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah; on the other hand the family sheikh can always lead but cannot govern unless he is wise. Although the title generally refers to a male, a very small number of female sheikhs have also existed.^{[citation needed]}

It also refers generally to a man over forty^[1] or fifty^[2] years of age. While even a new Muslim can be called a sheikh if he is diligent in seeking the knowledge of Islam based upon the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah, he can be referred to as such by those he teaches. Usually, a person is known as a sheikh when he has completed his undergraduate university studies in Islamic studies and is trained in giving lectures.^[1] The word sheikh under this meaning is a synonym of Alim, pl. Ulama (a learned person in Islam, a scholar),^[3] Mawlawi, Mawlānā, Muhaddith, Faqīh, Qadi, Mufti, Hadhrat or Hafiz.

Etymology and meaning[link]

The classical image of a 'sheikh': Sheikh Sattam de Haddadin of Palmyra, by Russian painter Alexandr Evgenievich Yacovleff.

The word in Arabic stems from a triliteral root connected with age and ageing: ش-ي-خ, shīn-yā'-khā'. The term literally means a man of old age, and it is used in that sense of all men in Qur'anic Arabic. Later it came to be a title meaning leader, elder, or noble, especially in the Arabian Peninsula, where shaikh became a traditional title of a Bedouin tribal leader in recent centuries. Due to the cultural impact of Arab civilization, and especially through the spread of Islam, the word has gained currency as a religious term or general honorific in many other parts of the world as well, notably in Muslim cultures in Africa and Asia.

While the title can be used religiously by Muslims to designate a learned person, as an Arabic word it is essentially independent of religion. It is notably used by Druze for their religious men, but also by Arab Christians for elder men of stature. Its usage and meaning is similar to the Latin senex meaning "old [man]", from which the Latin (and English) "senator" is derived. Accordingly, the Arabic term for most legislative bodies termed Senate (e.g. the United States Senate) is majlis al-shuyūkh, literally meaning "Council of Senators."

As a secular honorific[link]

The title is sometimes more informally used to people who have a certain financial or political influence, but especially in relation to royalty and other nobility.

In the Arabian Peninsula region[link]

In the Arabian Peninsula, the title is used for men of stature, whether they are managers in high posts, wealthy business owners, or local rulers. For example, it was the term used in the West to refer to the leaders of Kuwait's ruling al-Sabah dynasty, even though the monarchic style was actually Hakim (Arabic 'ruler') until June 19, 1961, when Kuwait joined the Arab League, and the title Emir was adopted. The same applied to Bahrain and Qatar. The term is used by almost every male member of all the Gulf royal houses with the exception of Saudi Arabia and Oman.

In the Maghreb region[link]

During the Almohad dynasty, the Caliph was also counciled by a body of Shaykhs, representing all the different tribes under their rules, including Berbers, Arabs, Bedouins and Andalusians, they were also responsible for mobilizing their kinsmen in the event of war.^[4]

Turkey[link]

In the Turkish language, the form Şeyh is used. Means religious leader of a tariqah branch.

Lebanon[link]

In Lebanon, the noble title of Sheikh was introduced in the beginning of the 16th century, when the Ottomans invaded the region and set a Prince for Lebanon (Fakhr-al-Din al-Maani was the first Prince of Lebanon), and Sheikhs replaced the previous noble title: Moukaddam, the known nobles before the 16th century. The Sheikh title was commonly used when addressing mainly the members of the traditional noble Maronite Christians families (Al-Daher in Akkar, Al-Khazen in Kesserwan, Al Khoury in Rechmaya El Metn, Al Dahdah in Jbeil, Hobeich in Ftouh Kesserwan, Tarabay in Jurd El Batroun, Gemayel in Bekfaya El Metn, Germanos in Jurd Jbeil, Al Hachem in Akoura, Al Doueihy in Zgharta, Al Saad in Aley...) but also Druzes in the southern part of Mount Lebanon (Joumblatt, Talhouk, Abd El Malek) and Shiites (Hamadeh in Jbeil). The term Sheikh was bestowed by the Emir (Prince) of Lebanon in a "Faramen of Mashiakha" allowing the persons in charge to represent the Emir in respective geographic parts of the Old Lebanon (the actual Mount Lebanon, and North Lebanon, excepting Tripoli city), their official duty was to collect the Mireh (Tax that was collected and offered to the Ottomans). Sheikhs were also considered as the political representatives and allies of the Prince, they recruited soldiers in times of war and commanded sections of the Prince army; their prestigious titles allowed them also to own large pieces of lands in the areas they represented. However, it was notable that ordinary people in the Emirate did have the right to land ownership and therefore economical autonomy, while many worked in the large lands of the Sheikhs. This title was naturally inherited, unless the Prince seize it and nominates another person from the same or other family, this situation happened few times in history when a new Prince takes over power. The Sheikhs official title became obsolete when the Prince effective ruling was vanished by the Ottomans in 1840 and the executive ruling was replaced by the Kaamakamiatein system of ruling. After this date, the name remained just as a honorable title. In the modern Lebanon, four presidents of the Republic are descendants from these traditional families: Sheikh Habib Pacha Es-Saad (was also a prime minister during the french Mandate), Sheikh Bechara El Khoury, Sheikh Bachir Gemayel and Sheikh Amine Gemayel. Also political leaders such as Walid Jumblatt, or Parliament previous or actual members such as: Estephane El Doueihi in Zgharta, Rushayd el Khazen Farid Haykal El Khazen Dr Farid El Khazen in Keserwan, Gabriel Germanos Nohad Germanos Soueid in Jbeil, Maurice Gemayel Pierre Gemayel Sami Gemayel in Metn, Fawzi Hobeich Hadi Hobeich in Akkar, Fouad Saad in Aley, and many others not listed here.

South Asia[link]

In Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and other parts of South Asia, the title Sheikh signifies Arab descent and comes under high caste of society but majority are the local brahmins, rajput or gujjar communities who used the title of Sheikh after conversion to Islam. In Delhi it was used by the Persian Magi descendants who migrate from Persia because of Safavid persecution in 16th century. The Muslims of the Middle East and Central Asia have historically, travelled to South Asia as Sufis during the Islamic Sultanates and Mughal Empire and settled permanently and assumed Shaikh status.

Pakistan[link]

In Pakistan the title is used for a caste (Community) well reputed and respected, mainly involved in business. Many of the popular personalities in Pakistan have been Sheikhs. The title Sheikh signifies Arab descent and comes under high caste of society. People who are Khawaja are Syeds by family.

Religious usage[link]

The term is often used by Muslims to address learned men of various Islamic sciences, such as faqihs, muftis, and muhaddiths, and more generally to convey respect for religious authorities.

The term is and/or was also used in certain Islamic parts of Africa, as in imperial Ethiopia by the hereditary Muslim rulers of Bela Shangul, and by certain Muslim notables of Wollo, Tigray and Eritrea. In Somalia it revers to all learned men, in relegious way, mostly do they have also political might in their town/city or clan.

For women[link]

A daughter or wife of a shaykh is sometimes called shaykhah (Arabic: شيخة‎). Currently, the term shaykhah is commonly used for females of rich families, especially ruling families, in Arab countries.

Surname[link]

In Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, "Sheikh" is a common surname among Muslims, and generally indicates Arab ancestry

See also[link]

• Kashmiri Shaikh
• Khawaja Shaikh
• Punjabi Shaikh
• Qallu
• Qanungoh Shaikh
• Quraishi
• Shaikh (caste)
• Siddiqui
• Sindhi Shaikh

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Shaikh Siddiqui
• Shaikportal.com
• History of El Douaihy
• History of the Maronites and Lebanon
• "History of Lebanon" by Kamal Salibi

Yusuf Estes (born in 1944) is an American Muslim preacher and teacher who converted from Christianity to Islam in 1991. He was a Muslim Chaplain for the United States Bureau of Prisons through the 1990s.^[1] He was a Muslim Delegate to the United Nations World Peace Conference for Religious Leaders held at the U.N. in September 2000.^[1]

Active in Islamic missionary work in the United States, Estes is often featured as guest presenter and keynote speaker at various Islamic events as well as frequently appearing on various Islamic satellite TV channels. Estes takes a dim view of today's public school system in the United States for any children, and highly recommends schools where they might receive a religious education combined with more advanced scholastic education.^[2]

Personal life[link]

Yusuf Estes was born in Ohio, and was raised in Houston, Texas in a Anglo-Saxon Protestant family.^[3] From 1962 to 1990, his career was in the music, entertainment and marketing fields. He also taught music and served as a music minister. He owned several musical instrument companies including the Estes Piano and Organ Company. He produced and directed live entertainment programs in the United States from the mid 1960s until his last endeavor for cable TV in Florida, entitled 'Estes Music Jamboree'.^[4]

Yusuf Estes became a Muslim in 1991 after meeting an Egyptian named Mohamed.^[1] Following his conversion, Estes entered the field of Dawah, or evangelizing the Islamic faith. Estes denies the theory of Darwinian evolution and instead professes creationism as described by Islamic scriptures.^[5]

Islamic Activities[link]

After embracing Islam, Estes pursued Arabic language and Quranic studies in Egypt, Morocco and Turkey.^[6] From 2004, Estes regularly appeared on the Islam Channel, as well as Peace TV and on Huda TV which are 24/7 Islamic channels broadcasting in many countries around the globe, via satellite and via the website WatchIslam.

Estes has started a free-to-air Internet and satellite TV channel called GuideUS TV which currently broadcasts commercial-free programming on Islam 24/7. He has also set up various websites directed toward English speaking Muslims which include TubeIslam (a Muslim video sharing site), ChatIslam (a Muslim chat room), and WorldPreschool (a defunct preschool learning site for young children).^[7]

Estes produced a video presentation series called Arabic in English, designed to help English speakers learn the Arabic language easily using his proprietary teaching method.^[8] He sells the series online, and also provides a set of free chatroom-based courses with volunteer teachers.^[9] He also produced a television series entitled Qisas Al Anbiyah (Stories of the Prophets), aimed toward English speaking children of Muslim parents.^[10]

See also[link]

• Islamic Missionary Activity
• List of American Muslims

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Blade, David Yonke Toledo. (July 14, 2001) Journal Gazette Proselytizing preacher finds faith in Islam: Sheik Yusuf Estes. Page 1.
• Tilove, Jonathan. (October 23, 2001) The Star-Ledger To be a white U.S. Muslim: Converts embrace the oddity. Section: News; Page 10.
• Pinsky, Mark I. (January 6, 2003) Orlando Sentinel Muslims' radio message: we are regular people. Section: Life & Times; Page C1.
• The Hamilton Spectator (February 14, 2003) A Christian attends a mosque; A visitor finds a warm welcome and wonders if he'd be as liberal.
• Columbia State (SC). (April 7, 2003) Chaplain to speak at USC about Islam. Section: Metro/Region; Page B5.
• UWIRE (March 1, 2004) U. New Mexico speaker asks religions to unite.
• UWIRE (April 18, 2005) Muslim speaker educates U. Northern Colorado students about faith.
• US State News. (April 12, 2006) National Muslim chaplain Yusuf Estes to speak at senior center on April 14.
• The Modesto Bee (April 22, 2006) Converted preacher to speak about 'pure Islam.' Section: Lifestyles; Page G1.
• Nomani, Asra Q. (October 22, 2006) Washington Post Wife-Beating, Chapter and Verse.
• Wen, Sarah. (January 23, 2007 ) University Wire UCLA Muslim student group to promote Islam, religious unity.

External links[link]

• Personal website of Yusuf Estes
• IslamAlways
• IslamTomorrow
• ShareIslam
• Yusuf Estes audio and video lectures from Halal Tube

HH The Emir Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم
Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 January 2006 Acting until 11 February 2006
President	Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Deputy	Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan (2006–09) Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan (2006–09) Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan (2009–) Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan (2009–)
Preceded by	Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum
1st Minister of Defense of the United Arab Emirates
Incumbent
Assumed office December 1971
President	Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Prime Minister	Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum
Emir of Dubai
Incumbent
Assumed office 4 January 2006
Deputy	Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Preceded by	Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Crown Prince of Dubai
In office 4 January 1995 – 4 January 2006
Monarch	Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Succeeded by	Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Personal details
Born	(1949-07-22) 22 July 1949 (age 62) Dubai, Trucial States
Religion	Sunni Islam
Father	Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum
Heir Apparent	Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Arabic محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم; Muḥammad bin Rāshid al Maktūm), also Sheikh Mohammed, (born July 22, 1949), is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and constitutional monarch of Dubai.^[1]

Early life and education[link]

He is the third of Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum's four sons (members of Dubai's ruling family Al Maktoum and descendants of the House of Al-Falasi, of which he is the tribal leader^[2]). From the age of four, Sheikh Mohammed was privately tutored in Arabic and Islamic Studies. In 1955, he began his formal education at Al Ahmedia School. At the age of 10, he moved to Al Shaab School, and two years later, he went to Dubai Secondary School. In 1966, he and his cousin, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Maktoum, attended the Bell Educational Trust's English Language School in the United Kingdom.^{[citation needed]}

Marriage and family[link]

His senior wife is Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum whom he married in 1979.

His best-known junior wife is HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, daughter of King Hussein of Jordan and half-sister of current King Abdullah II of Jordan, whom he married on April 10, 2004, and with whom he has two children, a daughter, Al-Jalila, born December 2, 2007 and a son, Zayed, born January 7, 2012.^[3][4][5] Sheikh Mohammed announced the arrival of his son Zayed on Twitter.^[6]

Sheikh Mohammed has 21 officially acknowledged children, eight sons and thirteen daughters, whom his heir and three daughters married with Middle East royalties :

• HH Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, married to HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi
• HH Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, married to HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah
• HH Sheikha Shaikha Bint Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum married to HH Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain

Sporting and cultural interests[link]

Al Maktoum, his sons, and his daughters are known to be avid enthusiasts of traditional Arabic poems and arts, and take part in projects to aid developing countries such as Jordan, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority and Yemen. He writes poetry in Nabati (colloquial Arabic.) ^[7]

They are also sport enthusiasts, especially in horse and camel racing. For example, in the 15th Asian Games in 2006, his son Rashid took the individual gold in Endurance, his sons Rashid, Ahmed, Majid, and Hamdan took the team gold in Endurance,^[8] his niece Latifa took a bronze in Show Jumping,^[9] and his daughter Maitha led the UAE team in taekwondo .^[10]

Thoroughbred horse racing[link]

Racing silks of Sheikh Mohammed

Sheikh Mohammed is a major figure in international thoroughbred horse racing and breeding. In late 1981, he purchased Gainsborough Stud at Woolton Hill, near Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom. He owns Ballysheehan Stud in County Tipperary, Ireland. He also owns Gainsborough Farms Inc in Versailles, Kentucky, United States. His racing operations includes the ownership of Darley Stables and he is the leading partner in his family's Godolphin Stables. Sheikh Mohammed hosts the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest series of horse races.^{[citation needed]}

In the UK, his horses have won numerous important Group One races including several of the British Classic Races. His horses have also won the Irish Derby Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and in the United States the 2006 Preakness Stakes with Bernardini.^{[citation needed]}

In 2008, he bought the Woodlands Stud empire for more than $460 million.^[11]

Political and business career[link]

On January 3, 1995, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum signed two decrees that appointed Sheikh Mohammed as Crown Prince of Dubai.

Sheikh Mohammed oversaw the development of numerous projects in Dubai including the creation of the Palm Islands and the luxury Burj Al Arab hotel. He also promoted the construction of Burj Khalifa, which is now the tallest free-standing structure in the world, world's tallest building; its official opening was on Monday, 4 January 2010. During his tenure as Crown Prince he set up Dubai Holding, the debt laden and financially troubled holding company with multi-diversified businesses and investments. He currently owns 99.67% of the company.^[12]

After roughly a decade of de facto rulership,^[13] he became the Ruler of Dubai on January 4, 2006 upon the death of his elder brother Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He was also nominated by the President of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to be the next Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE on January 5, 2006. The members of the UAE Federal National Council accepted the President's nomination shortly after.^{[citation needed]}

Net worth[link]

Dubai Princely Family

HH The Emir Sheikh HH Sheikha Hind HH The Hereditary Prince HH Sheikha Hassa HH Sheikh Rashid HH Sheikh Maktoum HH Sheikh Ahmed HH Sheikh Saeed HH Sheikha Latifa HH Sheikha Maryam HH Sheikha Sheikha HH Sheikha Futaim HH Sheikha Salamah HH Sheikha Shamma other wives HH Sheikha Manal HH Sheikha Maitha HH Sheikh Majed HH Sheikh Mansour HH Sheikha Shamsa HH Sheikha Mahra and 2 unknown HRH Princess Haya of Jordan HH Sheikha Al Jalila HH Sheikh Zayed HH Sheikh Maktoum HH Sheikh Saeed HH Sheikh Rashid HH Sheikh Hamdan HH Rashid HH Saeed HH Maktoum HH Sheikh Ahmed HH Sheikh Mohammed

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His family wealth in March 2012 is estimated at USD$ 79.5 billion by Forbes magazine.^{[citation needed]}

Charity[link]

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been known for his vast charitable donations. On May 19, 2007, he announced plans to give 10 billion USD to set up the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, an educational foundation in the Middle East.^[14] Sheikh Mohammed stated that the money is meant to bridge the knowledge gap between the Arab region and the developed world. The announcement was made at the 2007 World Economic Forum in Jordan.

Dubai Cares[link]

In September 2007, he launched the Dubai Cares campaign to raise money to educate 1 million children in poor countries. The campaign is Dubai's contribution to the U.N. Millennium Development Goals for providing Children's Primary Education to every child by 2015. The amount donated to this campaign has exceeded AED 1.65 billion (Approximately US$ 450 million).^{[citation needed]}

Noor Dubai[link]

On September 3, 2008, Sheikh Mohammad also launched a new Ramadan initiative under the name "Noor Dubai", aiming to help the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in achieving its goals outlined in VISION 2020: the Right to Sight. Noor Dubai will treat and provide health services to one million people suffering from treatable blindness and visual impairment in developing countries on a local, regional, and international scale.^{[citation needed]}

Controversies[link]

In 2000, the Sheikh funded 4 million euro for the construction of the Essalaam mosque in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, which led to a major controversy.^[15]

Since 2000, international equestrian athletes affiliated with UNICEF have worked to end the "scourge of modern slavery in mounted sports,"^[16] by putting public and diplomatic pressure on Sheikh Mohammed and the UAE government. In 2005, a UNICEF-sponsored programme with the UAE government resulted in the repatriation of hundreds of children formerly enslaved as camel jockeys, and provided them with social services and compensation upon return to their home countries of Pakistan, Sudan, Mauritania, and Bangladesh. The UAE government set aside $US2.7 million in initial funding in 2005 with an additional $US9 million for the second phase, and to enforce compliance, adopted a law officially banning the practice with penalties of jail time and a $US27,200 fine.^[17] UNICEF endorsed the UAE’s efforts and expressed the hopes that “the UAE’s programme will serve as a model to other countries in the region, as a means of ending all forms of exploitation of children”.^[18]

In September 2006, Sheikh Mohammed was accused of encouraging the abduction and enslavement of thousands of boys for use as jockeys in camel races. A class-action suit was filed against him in the state of Florida.^{[19][20][21][22]} However, in 2006, American lawyers representing the UAE raised a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, not on its substance but on the grounds that none of the involved parties resided in the U.S. In July 2007, judge Cecilia Altonaga accepted the motion and dismissed the suit.^{[citation needed]}

On 9 March 2007, the London-based Metro newspaper wrongly published a picture of Sheikh Mohammed, attributing it to the terror suspect Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. The Metro has since apologized for the error.^[23]

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• My Vision - Challenges in the Race for Excellence by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (2006); in Arabic; explains the vision of Sheikh Mohammed for Dubai
• Dubai The Maktoum Story by John M. Smith; in English; a book which criticizes the governance of Sheikh Mohammed

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

• Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's official site
• The Official Website of the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates
• Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's IT Education Project (ITEP)
• The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation
• Dubai Cares Official Site
• Noor Dubai Official site
• Photos of Dubai - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's yacht—largest in the world

v t e Prime Ministers of the United Arab Emirates Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum • Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum • Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum • Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum