Sharif - Revision history

Theentrepreneur: fixed citations for consistency and cleaned formatting for accuracy

2025-11-21T13:59:24Z

fixed citations for consistency and cleaned formatting for accuracy

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:29, 21 November 2025
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	{{Short description\|Descendant from the family of Muhammad}}		{{Short description\|Descendant from the family of Muhammad}}
	{{~~About~~\|~~the title for descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad's family~~}}		{{hatnote group\|
	{{Redirect-multi\|2\|Ashraf\|Shurafa\|~~people named Ashraf~~\|Ashraf (name)\|~~other uses~~\|Ashraf (disambiguation)\|~~the Palestinian writer~~\|Walid Shurafa}}		{{other uses}}
			{{Distinguish\|Sherif\|Sheriff}}
			}}
			{{Redirect-multi\|2\|Ashraf\|Shurafa\|other uses\|Ashraf (name)\|and\|Ashraf (disambiguation)\|and\|Walid Shurafa}}

	'''Sharīf''' ({{~~lang-~~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 [[Maghreb]]) '''shurfāʾ''', is a title used to designate a person descended, or claiming to be descended, from the family of the Islamic prophet [[Muhammad]] ({{circa\|570 CE –}} {{nowrap\|632 CE}}). It may be used in three senses:		'''Sharīf''' or '''Sherif''' ({{langx\|ar\|شريف}}, 'noble', 'highborn'), also spelled '''shareef''', feminine '''sharīfa''' ({{lang\|ar\|شريفة}}), plural '''ashrāf''' ({{lang\|ar\|أشراف}}), '''shurafāʾ''' ({{lang\|ar\|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]] ({{circa\|570 CE –}} {{nowrap\|632 CE}}). It may be used in three senses:

	#In the broadest sense, it refers to any descendant of Muhammad's great-grandfather [[Hashim ibn Abd Manaf\|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 ibn Abd al-Muttalib\|Abu Talib]] (the [[Talibids]]) and [[Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib\|al-Abbas]] (the [[Abbasids]]).<ref name="EI2Sharif">{{harvnb\|Van Arendonk\|Graham\|1960–2007}}.</ref>		#In the broadest sense, it refers to any descendant of Muhammad's great-grandfather [[Hashim ibn Abd Manaf\|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 ibn Abd al-Muttalib\|Abu Talib]] (the [[Talibids]]) and [[Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib\|al-Abbas]] (the [[Abbasids]]).<ref name="EI2Sharif">{{harvnb\|Van Arendonk\|Graham\|1960–2007}}.</ref>
	#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 [[Fatimah\|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.<ref name="EI2Sharif"/>		#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 [[Fatimah\|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.<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) [[Hasan ibn Ali\|Hasan]] (the [[Hasanids]]). 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 [[Husayn ibn Ali\|Husayn]] (the [[Husaynids]]).<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) [[Hasan ibn Ali\|Hasan]] (the [[Hasanids]]). In this limited context, it is contrasted with the term {{Transliteration\|ar\|[[sayyid]]}} ('lord', 'master', plural {{Transliteration\|ar\|sāda}}, ({{lang\|ar\|سادة}}), which then refers only to the descendants of Hasan's younger brother [[Husayn ibn Ali\|Husayn]] (the [[Husaynids]]).<ref name="EI2Sharif"/>

	The precise usage of the term has varied both historically and geographically~~. Today, descent from Muhammad through his daughter Fatima (either Hasanid or Husaynid) is more commonly designated by the term {{transl\|ar\|[[sayyid]]}}~~.<ref name="EI2Sharif"/>		The precise usage of the term has varied both historically and geographically.<ref name="EI2Sharif"/>

	==Etymology==		==Etymology==
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	==Usage==		==Usage==
	===History===		===History===
	Precise usage of the term has varied both historically and geographically. Often, the terms {{~~transl~~\|ar\|sharīf}} and {{~~transl~~\|ar\|[[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 [[Banu Hashim\|Hashimite]] descent, but were linked to a different and specific social status.<ref name="EI2Sharif"/>		Precise usage of the term has varied both historically and geographically. Often, the terms {{Transliteration\|ar\|sharīf}} and {{Transliteration\|ar\|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 [[Banu Hashim\|Hashimite]] 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 [[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 {{~~transl~~\|ar\|ashrāf}} designates not only Muslims of Arab descent ({{~~transl~~\|ar\|sayyid}}s or purported descendants of Ali and Fatima, and {{~~transl~~\|ar\|[[Shaikhs in South Asia\|shaykh]]}}s, which include all those who claim descent from the [[Quraysh]] or from one of Muhammad's [[sahaba\|companions]]), but also Muslims of [[Pashtuns\|Pasthun]] or Turko-Mongol ([[Mughal people\|Mughal]]) descent.<ref name="EI2Sharif"/>		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 {{Transliteration\|ar\|ashrāf}} designates not only Muslims of Arab descent ({{Transliteration\|ar\|sayyid}}s or purported descendants of Ali and Fatima, and {{Transliteration\|ar\|[[Shaikhs in South Asia\|shaykh]]}}s, which include all those who claim descent from the [[Quraysh]] or from one of Muhammad's [[sahaba\|companions]]), but also Muslims of [[Pashtuns\|Pasthun]] or Turko-Mongol ([[Mughal people\|Mughal]]) 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 [[Sayyid (name)\|proper name]].		Over time, people who were not of Hashimite descent were sometimes also granted the title {{Transliteration\|ar\|sharīf}} as a general mark of nobility. The result of this has been that today the term {{Transliteration\|ar\|sayyid}} has become a more common designation for those claiming descent from Muhammad.<ref name="EI2Sharif"/> As such, {{Transliteration\|ar\|Sayyid}} (or one of its many alternative spellings, like {{Transliteration\|ar\|Sayyed}} or {{Transliteration\|ar\|Syed}}) has also become a common [[Sayyid (name)\|proper name]].

	==Major sharif dynasties==		==Major sharif dynasties==
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	*[[Fatimids]] (Husaynids, ruled over a vast empire centered in [[Cairo]] and claimed the caliphate 909–1171)<ref name="Bosworth1996"/>		*[[Fatimids]] (Husaynids, ruled over a vast empire centered in [[Cairo]] and claimed the caliphate 909–1171)<ref name="Bosworth1996"/>
	*[[Sa'dids]] (Hasanids, ruled over Morocco 1510–1659)<ref name="Bosworth1996"/>		*[[Sa'dids]] (Hasanids, ruled over Morocco 1510–1659)<ref name="Bosworth1996"/>
	*[[Alawids]] (Hasanids, rule over Morocco 1631–present)<ref name="Bosworth1996"/>		*[[Alawi dynasty\|Alawids]] (Hasanids, rule over Morocco 1631–present)<ref name="Bosworth1996"/>
	*[[Hashimites]] (Hasanids, ruled over the [[Kingdom of Hejaz]] 1916–1925, the [[Arab Kingdom of Syria]] in 1920, the [[Kingdom of Iraq]] 1932–1958, and [[Jordan]] 1921–present)		*[[Hashimites]] (Hasanids, ruled over the [[Kingdom of Hejaz]] 1916–1925, the [[Arab Kingdom of Syria]] in 1920, the [[Kingdom of Iraq]] 1932–1958, and [[Jordan]] 1921–present)

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	*[[Sharifate of Mecca]]		*[[Sharifate of Mecca]]
	*[[Sharifian (disambiguation)]]		*[[Sharifian (disambiguation)]]
	*[[Sharifism]], term used for the rising prominence of the {{~~transl~~\|ar\|shurafāʾ}} in early modern Morocco		*[[Sharifism]], term used for the rising prominence of the {{Transliteration\|ar\|shurafāʾ}} in early modern Morocco
	*[[Sherif]], a proper name derived from {{~~transl~~\|ar\|sharīf}}, including a list of people named that way		*[[Sherif]], a proper name derived from {{Transliteration\|ar\|sharīf}}, including a list of people named that way
	**[[Omar Sharif]] (1932–2015), Egyptian actor and probably the most famous person with this name		**[[Omar Sharif]] (1932–2015), Egyptian actor and probably the most famous person with this name

	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist}}		===Citations===
			{{reflist\|30em}}

	===Sources cited===		===Sources cited===

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article

2023-09-28T19:43:03Z

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{{Short description|Descendant from the family of Muhammad}}
{{About|the title for descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad's family}}
{{Redirect-multi|2|Ashraf|Shurafa|people named Ashraf|Ashraf (name)|other uses|Ashraf (disambiguation)|the Palestinian writer|Walid Shurafa}}

'''Sharīf''' ({{lang-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 [[Maghreb]]) '''shurfāʾ''', is a title used to designate a person descended, or claiming to be descended, from the family of the Islamic prophet [[Muhammad]] ({{circa|570 CE –}} {{nowrap|632 CE}}). It may be used in three senses:

#In the broadest sense, it refers to any descendant of Muhammad's great-grandfather [[Hashim ibn Abd Manaf|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 ibn Abd al-Muttalib|Abu Talib]] (the [[Talibids]]) and [[Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib|al-Abbas]] (the [[Abbasids]]).<ref name="EI2Sharif">{{harvnb|Van Arendonk|Graham|1960–2007}}.</ref>
#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 [[Fatimah|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.<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) [[Hasan ibn Ali|Hasan]] (the [[Hasanids]]). 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 [[Husayn ibn Ali|Husayn]] (the [[Husaynids]]).<ref name="EI2Sharif"/>

The precise usage of the term has varied both historically and geographically. Today, descent from Muhammad through his daughter Fatima (either Hasanid or Husaynid) is more commonly designated by the term {{transl|ar|[[sayyid]]}}.<ref name="EI2Sharif"/>

==Etymology==
The word derives from the [[Arabic root]] sh–r–f, which expresses meanings related to honor, nobility, and prominence.<ref name="EI2Sharif"/> It has no etymological connection with the English term ''[[sheriff]]'', which comes from the [[Old English language|Old English]] word ''scīrgerefa'', meaning "shire-reeve", the local [[Reeve (England)|reeve]] (enforcement agent) of the king in the [[shire]] (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|[[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 [[Banu Hashim|Hashimite]] 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 [[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 {{transl|ar|ashrāf}} designates not only Muslims of Arab descent ({{transl|ar|sayyid}}s or purported descendants of Ali and Fatima, and {{transl|ar|[[Shaikhs in South Asia|shaykh]]}}s, which include all those who claim descent from the [[Quraysh]] or from one of Muhammad's [[sahaba|companions]]), but also Muslims of [[Pashtuns|Pasthun]] or Turko-Mongol ([[Mughal people|Mughal]]) 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 [[Sayyid (name)|proper name]].

==Major sharif dynasties==

*[[Abbasids]] (descendants of Muhammad's uncle [[Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib]], ruled over a vast empire centered in [[Baghdad]] 750–945, and claimed the caliphate 750–1517)
*[[Idrisids]] (Hasanids, ruled over [[Morocco]] 789–985)<ref name="Bosworth1996">{{harvnb|Bosworth|1996}}.</ref>
*[[Fatimids]] (Husaynids, ruled over a vast empire centered in [[Cairo]] and claimed the caliphate 909–1171)<ref name="Bosworth1996"/>
*[[Sa'dids]] (Hasanids, ruled over Morocco 1510–1659)<ref name="Bosworth1996"/>
*[[Alawids]] (Hasanids, rule over Morocco 1631–present)<ref name="Bosworth1996"/>
*[[Hashimites]] (Hasanids, ruled over the [[Kingdom of Hejaz]] 1916–1925, the [[Arab Kingdom of Syria]] in 1920, the [[Kingdom of Iraq]] 1932–1958, and [[Jordan]] 1921–present)

==See also==
*[[Asharaf]] or Ashraf, Somali clan claiming descent from Muhammad through Fatima
*[[List of Ashraf tribes in Libya|List of Ashrāf tribes in Libya]]
*[[Sharif of Mecca]]
*[[Sharifate of Mecca]]
*[[Sharifian (disambiguation)]]
*[[Sharifism]], term used for the rising prominence of the {{transl|ar|shurafāʾ}} in early modern Morocco
*[[Sherif]], a proper name derived from {{transl|ar|sharīf}}, including a list of people named that way
**[[Omar Sharif]] (1932–2015), Egyptian actor and probably the most famous person with this name

==References==
{{reflist}}

===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}}

{{Alids}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Alids|*]]
[[Category:Arabic words and phrases]]
[[Category:Maghreb]]
[[Category:Hashemite people]]
[[Category:Islamic honorifics]]
[[Category:Titles]]
[[Category:Titles in Pakistan]]