Is it permissible to address someone who has not memorized the entire Qur’an as “Sheikh So-and-so”?
The word "Sheikh" is used, customarily and linguistically, to denote several meanings, including a scholar, or a specialist in the sciences of Sharia, or an elder, or a person of religious devotion, or a dignified individual. Therefore, there is no religious impediment to using it for someone who has not memorized the entire Quran, especially if they possess some of these qualities.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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