What are the differences between sheikh, emir, sultan and caliph?

As the global phenomenon of the FIFA World Cup comes to Qatar, more attention has been brought to the culture and traditions of that part of the globe. For the first time in its history, the competition will be held in the winter months, due to the high temperatures that the country can reach in summer. In addition, this region includes a large number of rituals, traditions and customs that must be taken into account.

One of the most striking concepts that must be addressed is that of Arabic and Islamic titles. On many occasions, words such as sheikh, emir and caliph are used. Both in history and in popular culture, the use of these terms has been varied, but few really know the meaning, something that is so important in Arab culture.

Islamic or Arabic: denomination of titles

First of all, it should be noted that, while concepts such as emir, sultan and caliph are considered to be Islamic titles, sheikh is classed as an Arabic title. These denominations differ depending on whether they are religious, political or royal leaders.

Caliph: highest religious authority

One of the most relevant titles is that of caliph. It refers to the highest religious and political authority. Furthermore, this word means successor, therefore it is considered the successor of the Prophet Muhammad.

One definition states: it is the chief Muslim civil and religious ruler, regarded as the successor of Muhammad. The caliph ruled in Baghdad until 1258 and then in Egypt until the Ottoman conquest of 1517; the title was then held by the Ottoman sultans until it was abolished in 1924 by Atatürk.

Emir: designated by the caliph

About this, we must also highlight the relationship that the word emir has. In this situation, the caliph designated people with the aforementioned term, who were considered as provincial delegates.

The term derives from the word ‘command’, and is sometimes referred to as prince. It is for this reason that the caliph is known by the name Amir al-mu’minin, emir or prince of the believers.

Sultan: the highest civil authority

Unlike the caliph, who is the highest religious and political authority, this is the most important civil position. In this case, it could equate to the status held by the king of a country.

There are some places on the planet that are ruled by sultans, including those of Brunei and Oman. Note that while a sultan is the king of an Islamic state, similar to the way a European king was the ruler (in the Middle Ages) of a Catholic/Christian state, an Emir can mean a military commander and/or ruler of an Islamic State.

Sheikh: religious or political head

One of the most familiar terms around the world in recent times has been that of sheikh. At a sporting level, it has been used in a wide variety of situations, but few know the true meaning of this word. In fact, it refers to a ‘lord who governs a territory’ among Muslims.

This concept usually refers to an older man who exercised authority or gave orders, according to classical Arabic. This is clear from the term sheikh, which has ‘old’ at its etymological root. This word is related to a ruler of a specific Muslim region.