Shaikhs in South Asia

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.

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.

The subdivisions of the Shaikh include:

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