Emir originally referred to military commanders in the Middle East and North Africa, but has evolved to include chiefs, princes, and religious leaders. Some countries, like Kuwait and Qatar, designate their rulers as emirs, while the UAE is a federation of seven emirates, each with their own emir. The term is not consistently used throughout the Arab world and can also be used as a first name or for princesses in Slavic countries. The word admiral is a corruption of emir.
Emir initially meant commander or chief and was used in the Middle East and North Africa, mainly Arab nations, to refer to military commanders. The term is taken from the Arabic word amr which is a verb that can be defined as command. The French first adopted the term from the Arabic language and from there the British started using the term in the late 16th century. The word admiral is a corruption of emir.
Throughout Arab history, what constitutes an emir has changed. Although emirs were first the leaders or commanders of armies, some of the smaller Arab countries began to use the term for the chief. This term differs from caliph, believed by some Islamic groups to be the head of all Arab nations, as well as the head of the Islamic religion.
Furthermore, a prince can be called an emir, as can the leader of a pilgrimage to Mecca, emir hadj. The title may be given to senior members of the community and sometimes to religious leaders or may refer to a member of the Arab nobility. It was a title occasionally applied to the Prophet Muhammad.
There are currently some countries where rulers are called by this term. In Kuwait, rulers were once called sheikhs but are now more properly called emirs, and any country ruled by an emir is called an emirate. Qatar also designates its leaders as emirs.
The UAE is an independent federation of seven emirates, with an emir leading each emirate. While the government also has a president, each of the emirs acts as the leader of their own emirate. A Federal National Council composed of representatives from each emirate acts to accept or reject new laws and to create or amend existing laws, serving as an essential balance for the president’s leadership.
The term is not currently used consistently or equally throughout the Arab world. While Kuwaiti leaders may be emirs, the name may also be used as a first name. Emir or Amir are both common Arabic names. Some Slavic countries also use the word for a name, Emira, which means princess, and can be used as a name for girls.
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