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{{Short description|Descendant from the family of Muhammad}} | {{Short description|Descendant from the family of Muhammad}} | ||
{{ | {{hatnote group| | ||
{{Redirect-multi|2|Ashraf|Shurafa| | {{other uses}} | ||
{{Distinguish|Sherif|Sheriff}} | |||
}} | |||
{{Redirect-multi|2|Ashraf|Shurafa|other uses|Ashraf (name)|and|Ashraf (disambiguation)|and|Walid Shurafa}} | |||
'''Sharīf''' ({{ | '''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 {{ | #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 | 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 {{ | 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 {{ | 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 {{ | 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 {{ | *[[Sharifism]], term used for the rising prominence of the {{Transliteration|ar|shurafāʾ}} in early modern Morocco | ||
*[[Sherif]], a proper name derived from {{ | *[[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=== | ||
Latest revision as of 19:29, 21 November 2025
Sharīf or Sherif (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist., 'noble', 'highborn'), also spelled shareef, 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:
- 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).[1]
- 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.[1]
- 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).[1]
The precise usage of the term has varied both historically and geographically.[1]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The word derives from the Arabic root sh–r–f, which expresses meanings related to honor, nobility, and prominence.[1] 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).[2]
Usage[edit | edit source]
History[edit | edit source]
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.[1]
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.[1]
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.[1] As such, Sayyid (or one of its many alternative spellings, like Sayyed or Syed) has also become a common proper name.
Major sharif dynasties[edit | edit source]
- 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)[3]
- Fatimids (Husaynids, ruled over a vast empire centered in Cairo and claimed the caliphate 909–1171)[3]
- Sa'dids (Hasanids, ruled over Morocco 1510–1659)[3]
- Alawids (Hasanids, rule over Morocco 1631–present)[3]
- 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[edit | edit source]
- Asharaf or Ashraf, Somali clan claiming descent from Muhammad through Fatima
- List of Ashrāf tribes in Libya
- Sharif of Mecca
- Sharifate of Mecca
- Sharifian (disambiguation)
- Sharifism, term used for the rising prominence of the shurafāʾ in early modern Morocco
- Sherif, a proper name derived from 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[edit | edit source]
Citations[edit | edit source]
Sources cited[edit | edit source]
- Bosworth, Clifford Edmund (1996). The New Islamic Dynasties: A Chronological and Genealogical Manual. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 0-7486-2137-7.
- Online Etymology Dictionary (2001–2021). "Online Etymology Dictionary". www.etymonline.com.
- Van Arendonk, C.; Graham, W.A. (1960–2007). "Sharīf". In Bearman, P. J.; Bianquis, Th.; Bosworth, C. E.; van Donzel, E.; Heinrichs, W. P. (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition.