The term 'Islamic Head of State' can be summarized as an EMIR, which is a four-letter word. An EMIR is a leader or ruler of a Muslim state, usually a hereditary title. Historically, Emirs have been the rulers of independent states, but in modern times they are often the leaders of constitutional monarchies. In some cases, they may also be the heads of non-sovereign entities, such as the Emirate of Kuwait.