Shaikh or Sheikh, is a Sindhi tribe or caste. The "Shaikh" word is an Arabic term meaning elder of a tribe, lord, revered old man, or Islamic scholar. The Shaikhs of Sindh are one of the major tribe of the Sindhi Muslims ethnic group; they are converted from Sindhi Hindu Lohana/Brahmin tribes. 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 communities within them, namely Baghdadi, Sanjogi, Nangani, Deewan, and Chatani.

Origin

In Sindh, it is used as an ethnic title generally attributed to converted Hindu trading families that became Muslims.

Notable people