Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the current ruling Emir of Qatar who took over after the abdication of his father Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani in 2013 and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920–75) who was the founder and President of Bangladesh and later Prime Minister until his assassination in 1975, are the only two male Muslim leaders to hold the religious title of Sheikh.

However, the current 71-year-old leader of Bangladesh whose name is Sheikh Hasina is a female. Daughter of the late President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a look at her family tree chart reveals the title Sheikh is common among females in her family.

In Arabic, the term Sheikh or Shaikh means elder, chief, or old man as in Sural Al-Qasas (28:23):
وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَاءَ مَدْيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ امْرَأَتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ ۖ قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُمَا ۖ قَالَتَا لَا نَسْقِي حَتَّىٰ يُصْدِرَ الرِّعَاءُ ۖ وَأَبُونَا شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ - 28:23
SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
And when he came to the well of Madyan, he found there a crowd of people watering [their flocks], and he found aside from them two women driving back [their flocks]. He said, "What is your circumstance?" They said, "We do not water until the shepherds dispatch [their flocks]; and our father is an old man."

Kiswahili
23. Alipo yafikia maji ya Madyana wanapo nyweshea maji alikuta karibu na kisima kundi la watu wengi mbali mbali wanawanywesha wanyama wao wa mifugo. Na pahali pa chini kuliko hapo pao akawakuta wanawake wawili wanawazuia kunywa maji kondoo na mbuzi wao. Musa akawaambia: Mbona mko mbali na maji? Wakajibu: Hatuwezi kusukumana, na wala hatunyweshi sisi mpaka hawa wachunga wamalize wao kunywesha. Na baba yetu ni mkongwe, hawezi kuchunga wala kunywesha wanyama.

Af-Soomaali
Markuu Gaadhay Biyaha Madyanna wuxuu ku Helay Ummad Dad ahoo Waraabinaysa wuxuuna ka helay Sokodooda Labo Haweena oo Reebi (Adhigooda) wuxuuna yidhi muxuu Xaalkiinu yahay, waxayna Dheheen Ma Waraabinno intay ka Fulaan Xoola jirku, Aabbahanana waa Oday Wayn.