Malik (ملك) is a word that means "king" in Arabic, also adopted in various other oriental languages, also in derived meanings.

Political

Primarily a Malik is the ruling Monarch of a kingdom, called mamlaka; that term is however also used in a broader sense, like realm, for rulers with another, generally lower titles, as in Sahib al-Mamlaka.

Among the Arab kingdoms presently ruled by a Malik are:

• Bahrain
• Jordan
• Morocco
• Saudi Arabia, with the additional? title of Protector of the Holy Cities

Other historic realms under a Malik include:

• Egypt
• Iraq
• Libya
• the Nabhani * in Oman
• Yemen

The title Malik has also been used, also in other languages that have adopted Arabic loanwords (mainly, not exclusively, in Muslim cultures), for various princely or lower ranks and functions.

• In (orthodox) Georgia
• In (orthodox) Armenia

Military

Like many princely titles, it has also been used as a military rank, notably in certain decimally organized Muslim armies in India, a high rank under

Supernatural

• It is also one of the "99 Names of Allah", and is then al-Malik (الملك) or The King in the absolute sense (denoted by the definite article), meaning the King of Kings, above all earthly rulers.
• In Islamic belief, Malik denotes a terrible angel who guards the Hellfire, assisted by 19 sbires (zabaniya) or guardians. In the Qu'ran, sura 43, 77, Malik tells the wicked who appeal to him that they must remain in Hell forever because "they abhorred the truth when the truth was brought to them." The Hebrew sister-word melekh also denotes an angel-prince

Compound and derived titles

• Malika is the female derivation, a term of Arabic origin used in Persia as the title for a Queen consort (i.e. not ruling, as Islamic tradition forbids this to women). Frequently also used as part of a lady's name, e.g. Malika-i-Jahan 'Queen of the World'.

The following components are frequently part of titles, notably in Persian (also used elsewhere, e.g. in India's Moghol tradition):

• - ul-Mulk (or ul-Molk): - of the kingdom.
• - ul-Mamaluk (plural of ul-mulk): - of the kingdoms.

In the great Indian Muslim salute

Other uses

By analogy, the word malik is also used in the weaker meaning of 'chief' in various modest titles, such as, in Persian:

• Malik ul-Shu'ara: 'King of the Poets',, i.e. poet laureate.
• Malik ul-Tujjar: 'King of the Merchants', an office held by the head of the merchant community in each town or city.

Like many prestigious titles, Malik is a common element is first and family names, usually without any aristocratic meaning. For example, Malik is a large community in Pakistan with Arab heritage. Malik is used both as title and surname in Pakistan.

In some modern Indian languages, malik means "owner."

Modern cultural references

• Malik is the name of a villain from the Japanese animated series Yu-Gi-Oh!. Malik is depicted as an Egyptian whose clan guards the tomb of the Pharaoh from grave robbers. He seeks to obtain the power of the Pharaoh.
• Malik is also the name of one of the Prophets in the game Wild Arms 3. He is shown as youthful and agile, and, during the course of the game, is searching for a way to resurrect his mother.
• House al-Malik is one of the five major houses in the Fading Suns Universe

• In the "Legacy of Kain" video game series Malik is amember of "The Circle of Nine", a group of sorcerors directly linked to 9 aspects of existance. Malik is the guardian of the other sorcerors and represents the world's conflict. In "Blood Omen", the first in the series, we see him robbed of flesh and bound to his armour; though he can be seen in human form in later games.

Sources and References

• Davidson, A Dictionary of Angels including the Fallen Ones
• Hughes, A Dictionary of Islam
• Jewish Encylcopedia, "Angelology"
• Hastings, Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics IV, 618.]

See also

• Malik Ibn Anas
• Malcolm X Malik