Zahed

Zahed (Zahid) (Arabic: زاهد‎) is Arabic for ascetic and used as a name in the entire muslim world.

Sufi sheikhs often initiated disciples by conferring on them the name Zahed, which is popular with pious muslims, who wish to symbolically preordain their offspring to a life of virtues, similar to an ascetic's. One example of a Sufi being named Zahed is the eminent Sufi grandmaster Sheikh Zahed Gilani.