Who is a Sheikh?

Sheikh 'Uthaymeen rahimahullah said: “The word 'Sheikh' in the Arabic language is used only in reference to someone who is kabeer (great); great in age, or in status; i.e. someone who possesses knowledge, wealth, etc. So it is not used to address minors. But as you have said, it has become so widespread that even a Jaahil (ignoramus), or someone who doesn't know anything, is given the title 'Sheikh'. I see this to be inappropriate; because if you address a person with this title while he is ignorant and has no knowledge, people may be deceived by him and assume that he has knowledge, so they return to him for fatwa and so on, and as a result there is great harm. And many people -we ask Allah to guide us and them- have no issue with giving fatwa, even without knowledge; because he thinks that if he says 'I don't know' that is deficiency on his part. Though in reality when someone says 'I don't know' concerning something which he has no knowledge of, that is excellency on his part. But the souls are inclined to wanting to be known, except those whom Allah has saved. Therefore, I see that the term 'Sheikh' should not be used except for those who are deserving of it; due to old age, or high status in terms of authority over a people or being knowledgeable. Similarly, we find people using the title 'Imaam' in reference to ordinary scholars, even if they are scholars who are muqallids (i.e. dependant on other scholars' judgements). They refer to them as 'Imaam'. This is also inappropriate. The term 'Imaam' should only be used in reference to those who are deserving of such a title; someone who has followers and whose opinion holds weight amongst the Muslims...”