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{{Short description|Descendant from the family of Muhammad}}
{{Unreferenced|date=December 2007}}
{{About|the title for descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad's family}}
{{otheruses}}
{{Redirect-multi|2|Ashraf|Shurafa|people named Ashraf|Ashraf (name)|other uses|Ashraf (disambiguation)|the Palestinian writer|Walid Shurafa}}
'''''Sharīf''''' ({{lang-ar|شريف}}) is a traditional ] ] ] given to those who serve as the protector of the tribe and all tribal assets, such as property, wells, and land. The feminine form is '''sharifa(h)'''.
{{Distinguish|text=], a proper name derived from the Islamic title; or ], the title of various kinds of government officials}}


'''Sharīf''' ({{langx|ar|شريف}}, 'noble', 'highborn'), also spelled '''shareef''' or '''sherif''', feminine '''sharīfa''' ({{lang|ar|شريفة}}), plural '''ashrāf''' ({{lang|ar|أشراف}}), '''shurafāʾ''' ({{lang|ar|شرفاء}}), or (in the ]) '''shurfāʾ''', is a title used to designate a person descended, or claiming to be descended, from the family of the Islamic prophet ] ({{circa|570 CE –}} {{nowrap|632 CE}}). It may be used in three senses:
Primarily ] in the ] reserve the term ''sharif'' for descendants of ], while '']'' is used for descendants of ]. Both Hasan and Husayn are grandchildren of Prophet ], through the marriage of his cousin ] and his daughter ]. However ever since the post-Hashemite era began, the term ''sayyid'' has been used to denote descendants from both Hasan and Husayn. Arab ] use the terms ''sayyid'' and ''habib'' to denote descendants from both Hasan and Husayn; see also ].


#In the broadest sense, it refers to any descendant of Muhammad's great-grandfather ] (the ] or Hashimites, already in Muhammad's day an established clan within the Meccan tribe of the ]), including all descendants of Muhammad's paternal uncles ] (the ]) and ] (the ]).<ref name="EI2Sharif">{{harvnb|Van Arendonk|Graham|1960–2007}}.</ref>
From 1201 until the ] was conquered by ] in 1925, this family held the office of the ], often also carrying the title and office of King of Hejaz. Descendants now rule the ], the name being taken from the ], the sub-tribe of ], to which Prophet Muhammad belonged.
#More often, it refers to a descendant of ], a son of Abu Talib and a paternal cousin of Muhammad (the ]), especially but not exclusively through Ali's marriage with Muhammad's daughter ] (the ]). In the sense of descendants of Fatima and Ali (the most common one), the term effectively refers to all descendants of Muhammad.<ref name="EI2Sharif"/>
#In the narrowest sense, it refers only to someone who descends from Fatima and Ali's eldest son (and Muhammad's grandson) ] (the ]). In this limited context, it is contrasted with the term {{transl|ar|sayyid}} ('lord', 'master', plural {{transl|ar|sāda}}, ({{lang|ar|سادة}}), which then refers only to the descendants of Hasan's younger brother ] (the ]).<ref name="EI2Sharif"/>


The precise usage of the term has varied both historically and geographically.<ref name="EI2Sharif"/>
⚫ The word has no etymological connection with the ] term '']'', which comes from the ] word ''scīrgerefa'', meaning "shire-reeve," the local ] (enforcement agent) of the king in the ] (county).

==Etymology==
⚫ The word derives from the ] sh–r–f, which expresses meanings related to honor, nobility, and prominence.<ref name="EI2Sharif"/> It has no etymological connection with the English term '']'', which comes from the ] word ''scīrgerefa'', meaning "shire-reeve", the local ] (enforcement agent) of the king in the ] (county).<ref>{{harvnb|Online Etymology Dictionary|2001–2021}}.</ref>

==Usage==
===History===
Precise usage of the term has varied both historically and geographically. Often, the terms {{transl|ar|sharīf}} and {{transl|ar|]}} were used interchangeably, while in other contexts they referred to ] vs. ] descent (especially in the ], where the ] was restricted to persons of Hasanid descent). In still other contexts, they both referred to some form of ] descent, but were linked to a different and specific social status.<ref name="EI2Sharif"/>

In most places, the term has functioned as a mark of nobility (both the ] and the ] were at one time holder of the ]), except in ], where the meaning of the term has expanded to include all Muslims of foreign descent. Thus, in the ], the term {{transl|ar|ashrāf}} designates not only Muslims of Arab descent ({{transl|ar|sayyid}}s or purported descendants of Ali and Fatima, and {{transl|ar|]}}s, which include all those who claim descent from the ] or from one of Muhammad's ]), but also Muslims of ] or Turko-Mongol (]) descent.<ref name="EI2Sharif"/>

Over time, people who were not of Hashimite descent were sometimes also granted the title {{transl|ar|sharīf}} as a general mark of nobility. The result of this has been that today the term {{transl|ar|sayyid}} has become a more common designation for those claiming descent from Muhammad.<ref name="EI2Sharif"/> As such, {{transl|ar|Sayyid}} (or one of its many alternative spellings, like {{transl|ar|Sayyed}} or {{transl|ar|Syed}}) has also become a common ].

==Major sharif dynasties==

*] (descendants of Muhammad's uncle ], ruled over a vast empire centered in ] 750–945, and claimed the caliphate 750–1517)
*] (Hasanids, ruled over ] 789–985)<ref name="Bosworth1996">{{harvnb|Bosworth|1996}}.</ref>
*] (Husaynids, ruled over a vast empire centered in ] and claimed the caliphate 909–1171)<ref name="Bosworth1996"/>
*] (Hasanids, ruled over Morocco 1510–1659)<ref name="Bosworth1996"/>
*] (Hasanids, rule over Morocco 1631–present)<ref name="Bosworth1996"/>
*] (Hasanids, ruled over the ] 1916–1925, the ] in 1920, the ] 1932–1958, and ] 1921–present)


Sharif, however, is the Arabic/Farsi word for "honorable".
==See also== ==See also==
*] or Ashraf, Somali clan claiming descent from Muhammad through Fatima
]
*]
⚫ *]
*]
*]
*], term used for the rising prominence of the {{transl|ar|shurafāʾ}} in early modern Morocco
*], a proper name derived from {{transl|ar|sharīf}}, including a list of people named that way
**] (1932–2015), Egyptian actor and probably the most famous person with this name


==References==
⚫ ]
===Citations===
{{reflist|30em}}

===Sources cited===
*{{cite book|last1=Bosworth|first1=Clifford Edmund|author1-link=Clifford Edmund Bosworth|year=1996|title=The New Islamic Dynasties: A Chronological and Genealogical Manual|location=Edinburgh|publisher=Edinburgh University Press|isbn= 0-7486-2137-7}}
*{{cite web|author=Online Etymology Dictionary|date=2001–2021|url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/sheriff|title=Online Etymology Dictionary|website=www.etymonline.com}}
*{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Van Arendonk|first1=C.|last2=Graham|first2=W.A.|date=1960–2007|title=Sharīf|editor1-last=Bearman|editor1-first=P. J.|editor1-link=P. J. Bearman|editor2-last=Bianquis|editor2-first=Th.|editor3-last= Bosworth|editor3-first=C. E.|editor3-link=Clifford Edmund Bosworth|editor4-last=van Donzel|editor4-first=E.|editor5-last=Heinrichs|editor5-first=W. P.|editor5-link=W. P. Heinrichs|encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition|url=http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/sharif-COM_1041}}

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Latest revision as of 08:27, 25 November 2024

Descendant from the family of Muhammad This article is about the title for descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad's family. For other uses, see Sharif (disambiguation). "Ashraf" and "Shurafa" redirect here. For people named Ashraf, see Ashraf (name). For other uses, see Ashraf (disambiguation). For the Palestinian writer, see Walid Shurafa. Not to be confused with Sherif, a proper name derived from the Islamic title; or Sheriff, the title of various kinds of government officials.

Sharīf (Arabic: شريف, 'noble', 'highborn'), also spelled shareef or sherif, feminine sharīfa (شريفة), plural ashrāf (أشراف), shurafāʾ (شرفاء), or (in the Maghreb) shurfāʾ, is a title used to designate a person descended, or claiming to be descended, from the family of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (c. 570 CE – 632 CE). It may be used in three senses:

  1. In the broadest sense, it refers to any descendant of Muhammad's great-grandfather Hashim (the Banu Hashim or Hashimites, already in Muhammad's day an established clan within the Meccan tribe of the Quraysh), including all descendants of Muhammad's paternal uncles Abu Talib (the Talibids) and al-Abbas (the Abbasids).
  2. More often, it refers to a descendant of Ali, a son of Abu Talib and a paternal cousin of Muhammad (the Alids), especially but not exclusively through Ali's marriage with Muhammad's daughter Fatima (the Fatimids). In the sense of descendants of Fatima and Ali (the most common one), the term effectively refers to all descendants of Muhammad.
  3. In the narrowest sense, it refers only to someone who descends from Fatima and Ali's eldest son (and Muhammad's grandson) Hasan (the Hasanids). In this limited context, it is contrasted with the term sayyid ('lord', 'master', plural sāda, (سادة), which then refers only to the descendants of Hasan's younger brother Husayn (the Husaynids).

The precise usage of the term has varied both historically and geographically.

Etymology

The word derives from the Arabic root sh–r–f, which expresses meanings related to honor, nobility, and prominence. It has no etymological connection with the English term sheriff, which comes from the Old English word scīrgerefa, meaning "shire-reeve", the local reeve (enforcement agent) of the king in the shire (county).

Usage

History

Precise usage of the term has varied both historically and geographically. Often, the terms sharīf and sayyid were used interchangeably, while in other contexts they referred to Hasanid vs. Husaynid descent (especially in the Hejaz, where the Sharifate of Mecca was restricted to persons of Hasanid descent). In still other contexts, they both referred to some form of Hashimite descent, but were linked to a different and specific social status.

In most places, the term has functioned as a mark of nobility (both the Abbasids and the Fatimids were at one time holder of the caliphate), except in South Asia, where the meaning of the term has expanded to include all Muslims of foreign descent. Thus, in the caste system among South Asian Muslims, the term ashrāf designates not only Muslims of Arab descent (sayyids or purported descendants of Ali and Fatima, and shaykhs, which include all those who claim descent from the Quraysh or from one of Muhammad's companions), but also Muslims of Pasthun or Turko-Mongol (Mughal) descent.

Over time, people who were not of Hashimite descent were sometimes also granted the title sharīf as a general mark of nobility. The result of this has been that today the term sayyid has become a more common designation for those claiming descent from Muhammad. As such, Sayyid (or one of its many alternative spellings, like Sayyed or Syed) has also become a common proper name.

Major sharif dynasties

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ Van Arendonk & Graham 1960–2007.
  2. Online Etymology Dictionary 2001–2021.
  3. ^ Bosworth 1996.

Sources cited

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