Ismaili Shaikh

Sheikh (pronounced /ˈʃeɪk/ shayk or /ˈʃiːk/ sheek; Arabicشيخ šayḫ [ʃæjx], mostly pronounced [ʃeːx], plural شيوخ šuyūḫ [ʃuju:x])—also spelled Sheik, Shayk, Shaikh or Sheikh, or transliter Shaykh—Arabic language. The title was commonly used to designate the ruler of a tribe who got this title after his father. The Hindu Brahmins, Kshatriya, Bhanushali Kataria (Also known as Katarmal), Thakur, Rana, Rathores, Bhattis, Chauhans and other Rajput elite class converted by different Ismaili Pirs to Islam, Ismaili Pirs gave the new converts of punjab hereditary title of Shaikh as well as to those Muslims who immigrated from Arabia and Persia and settled in Punjab who previously were Sayyid after their conversion to Ismailism had to change their caste due to a belief in Ismailism that Imam is the only Sayyid. So for centuries Ismaili Shaikhs have enjoyed respect from both Muslims and Hindus. Although later majority of Ismaili Sheikhs excepted Sunni faith. Ismaili Sheikhs of Punjab are the least known of the Ismaili's unlike their counterpart in Sindh and Gujrat, the khoja Ismaili community.