Back to search

Is it true that the word "Shaykh" is not used for a memorizer of the Qur’an or for teachers of the Qur’an, but rather is used for "your jurist in religion and your elder in age"?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

There is no objection to saying "O Sheikh" to a memorizer of the Quran, as there is no legal impediment, and because the word is used for people of status and importance, and a memorizer of the Quran is most deserving of that. Allah Almighty said: "Then We caused to inherit the Book those We have chosen of Our servants" (Quran 35:32), and in the Hadith: "Indeed, Allah raises some people by this Book and lowers others by it."

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Read the full answer on Ftawy