Quranic root
شيخ
sh · y · kh
The root centers on شَيْخ, a person advanced in age. Age is associated in the lexical tradition with accumulated experience, knowledge, and social precedence.
The family develops from becoming old and the state of old age to honorific titles and several figurative or specialized applications; derived verbal forms include calling someone a shaykh, imputing faults, and feigning old age.
- Maqāyīs · row 2736
- Mufradāt · row 803
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 4
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
شَيْخ
shaykh
- Part of speech
- Noun · Adjective
- Quran occurrences
- 4 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A person advanced in age; an old or elderly man.
In Quranic usage it describes advanced age, in both singular and plural forms, including an old husband or father and old men. The lexical range can include an elder who retains strength as well as one who is weak or decrepit; weakness and honorific status are not required by the word itself.
- Lane · entry 39744
- Mufradāt · row 803
Selected Quran examples
Quran 11:72word 8
“(is) an old man”
Quran 12:78word 7
“old”
Quran 28:23word 26
“(is) a very old man”
Quran 40:67word 20
“old”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 4 occurrencesBroader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 16 Classical meanings
شَاخَ
To become old or elderly; to reach the condition of a shaykh.
Form I verb.
- Lane · entry 39741
شَيَّخَ
To call someone a shaykh as an act of honor or respect.
A causative or honorific naming use of the Form II verb.
- Lane · entry 39742
شَيَّخَ
To attribute or charge someone with a vice or fault; to blame or reproach him.
Explicitly associated with the construction شَيَّخَ عَلَيْهِ.
- Lane · entry 39742
شَيَّخَ
To expose someone’s vices or evil actions; to disgrace or put him to shame.
Associated with the construction شَيَّخَ بِهِ and related usage.
- Lane · entry 39742
تَشَيَّخَ
To feign or make a show of old age.
A specialized Form V usage distinct from actually growing old.
- Lane · entry 39743
شَيْخَةٌ
An old or aged woman.
The feminine counterpart of شَيْخ in its age-related sense.
- Lane · entry 39744
شَيْخٌ
An honorific title for a learned man, especially a doctor of religion or law; also a religious leader, tribal or village chief, or reputed saint.
A later or customary honorific application, distinct from the literal description of age.
- Lane · entry 39744
شَيْخَةٌ
An honorific title for a learned woman, instructress, or the like.
A later or customary feminine honorific application.
- Lane · entry 39744
الشَّيْخَانِ
A title specifically applied to Abū Bakr and ʿUmar.
A fixed honorific title for the two early caliphs.
- Lane · entry 39744
شَيْخٌ
A woman’s husband, even when he is young.
A figurative or transferred usage in which the word does not require the husband to be old.
- Lane · entry 39744
شَيْخٌ
An ancestor.
A figurative usage, attested in expressions referring to one’s forefathers or ancestors.
- Lane · entry 39744
شَيْخُ النَّارِ
Iblīs.
A fixed figurative expression, explained by his creation from fire or his ultimate abode in Hellfire.
- Lane · entry 39744
الشَّيْخُ
An aged or full-grown mountain goat.
A transferred animal-designation based on advanced age or maturity.
- Lane · entry 39744
الشَّيْخُ
A milk-skin.
A specialized transferred usage.
- Lane · entry 39744
أَشْيَاخُ النُّجُومِ
The roots or fixed bases of the stars; in traditional astronomical interpretation, the expression may refer to seven or five planets or to fixed stars outside the lunar mansions.
A specialized astronomical expression with variant traditional identifications.
- Lane · entry 39744
شَيْخٌ
A certain tree whose fruit resembles that of the bastard saffron.
A distinct botanical noun, also called شَجَرَةُ الشُّيُوخِ.
- Lane · entry 39744
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The single QAC form group combines singular شَيْخ and plural شُيُوخ under the normalized citation headword شَيْخ.
The astronomical expression أَشْيَاخُ النُّجُومِ has variant traditional interpretations.