Is it permissible to address a university student as "Sheikh" if he has memorized the Qur'an, leads his friends in prayer, answers their jurisprudential questions in accordance with the sayings of the scholars he emulates, possesses a scholarly background in Usul al-Fiqh, Aqeedah, Hadith terminology, grammar, and Fiqh, and has memorized some hadiths along with Sheikh Al-Albani's rulings?
It is permissible to bestow the title "Sheikh" upon a colleague if he possesses knowledge that benefits his peers. The term "Sheikh," in its conventional usage, refers to someone worthy of being a mentor. And anyone who provides religious benefit to another is their Sheikh.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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