A fewArabic language experts state that it has its roots in the wordal-asadالأسد, meaning "lion", probably because of the qualities of valor and leadership.[12]: 158 [13]: 265 The word is derived from the verb sāda, meaning to rule. The title seyyid/sayyid existed before Islam, however not in light of a specific descent, but as ameritocratic sign of respect.[14]
The foundation of the title Sayyid is unclear. In fact the title Sayyid as a unified reference for descendants ofMuhammad did not exist, according to Morimoto Kazuo, until theMongol conquests.[17] This can be substantiated by historic records aboutAbdul Qadir Gilani andBahauddin Naqshband, who did not refer to themselves with any title, despite their lineages toMuhammad. Sometimes the ruling community of a nation took this title to portray themselves as respected and honored, though they are not actually the descendants ofMuhammad. This gives reasons to think that this title is founded later on.[citation needed] Morimoto refers to Mominov, who describes that the emergence of a community leader during theMongol era (Ilkhanate) gave rise to the prominence of the title Sayyid.[17]: 7 This leader is most probably theSunniShafiite scholarMir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, who lived in this time, being known as a saint credited with the honorific titles "Amir-e-Kabir"(English: "Grand Prince") and "Ali-e-Saani" (English: "SecondAli").[18]Hamadani's religious legacy inKashmir as well as his headquarter (Persian:Khanqah) theKhanqa-e-Mola became under the control of theGrand SayyidHazrat Ishaan.Hazrat Ishaan's descendants are buried in Hamadani's headquarters, on which occasion it is known as the "Ziyarat Naqshband Sahab" today.[19][20][21]
However, inSunni Islam as practiced in theOttoman andMughal Empire, a person descending fromMuhammad (either maternally or paternally) can only claim the title ofSayyidmeritocratically by passingaudits, whereupon exclusive rights, like paying lesser taxes, will be granted. These are mostly based on the claimant's demonstrated knowledge of theQuran and piousness (Arabic:Taqwa) under the assessment of aNaqib al-Ashraf, also known as aMir in Persian-speaking countries.[22][23][24] Notable examples of such a Naqib (plural: "Nuqaba") or Mirs (plural: "Miran"), wereHazrat Ishaan in theMughal Empire and his descendant Sayyid Mir Fazlullah Agha inRoyal Afghanistan.[22]
Men belonging to theSayyid families or tribes in the Arab world used to wear white or ivory coloured daggers likejambiyas,khanjars orshibriyas to demarcate their nobility amongst other Arab men, although this custom has been restricted due to the local laws of the variously divided Arab countries.[citation needed]
TheSayyid families in Iraq are so numerous that there are books written especially to list the families and connect their trees. Some of these families are: the Al-Talqani, Alyassiri, Al Aqeeqi, Al-Nasrullah, Al-Wahab,Al-Hashimi, Al-Barznji, Al-Quraishi,Al-Marashi, Al-Witry,Al-Obaidi, Al-Samarai,Al-Zaidi, Al-A'araji, Al-Baka, Al-Hasani, Al-Hussaini, Al-Shahristani,Al-Qazwini Al-Qadri,Tabatabaei, Al- Alawi, Al-Ghawalib (Al-Ghalibi),Al-Musawi, Al-Awadi (not to be confused with the Al-AwadhiHuwala family), Al-Gharawi, Al-Sabzewari, Al-Shubber, Al-Hayali, Al-Kamaludeen, Al-Asadi and many others.[25][26][27]
Mausoleum ofImam RezaMausoleum of Imamzadeh Sayyid Hamza bin Musa al Kazim
Sayyids (inPersian:سیدSeyyed) are found in vast numbers inIran. The Chief of "National Organization for Civil Registration" of Iran declared that more than 6 millions of Iranians areSayyid.[28] The majority ofSayyids migrated to Iran from Arab lands predominantly in the 15th to 17th centuries during theSafavid era. The Safavids transformed the religious landscape of Iran by imposingTwelverShiism on the populace. Since most of the population embraced Sunni Islam, and an educated version of Shiism was scarce in Iran at the time,Ismail imported a new group of ShiaUlama who predominantly were Sayyids from traditional Shiite centers of the Arabic-speaking lands, such asJabal Amel (of southern Lebanon),Syria,Bahrain, andsouthern Iraq in order to create a state clergy. The Safavids offered them land and money in return for loyalty.[29][30][31][32][33] These scholars taught Twelver Shiism, made it accessible to the population, and energetically encouraged conversion to Shiism.[30][31][32][33][34]
During the reign ofShah Abbas the Great, the Safavids also imported to Iran more Arab Shias, predominantlySayyids, built religious institutions for them, including manyMadrasas (religious schools), and successfully persuaded them to participate in the government, which they had shunned in the past (following theHidden imam doctrine).[35][self-published source?]
InOman, Sayyid is used solely as a royal title and not as a means of indicating descent fromMuhammad. It is used by members of the rulingAl Said family who are not descended from Muhammad but instead from theAzd, aQahtanite tribe. Allmale line descendants ofSultan Ahmad bin Said, the first ruler of Oman from the Al Said dynasty, are able to use the title of Sayyid or Sayyida.[36] Male line descendants ofSultan Turki bin Said are also able to use the style ofHis/Her Highness. The Sayyid title in Oman is some times translated asPrince.[37]
In Yemen theSayyids are more generally known assadah; they are also referred to asHashemites. In terms of religious practice they areSunni,Shia, andSufi.Sayyid families inYemen include theRassids, the Qasimids, the Mutawakkilites, the Hamideddins, some Al-Zaidi ofMa'rib, Sana'a, andSa'dah, theBa 'Alawi sadah families inHadhramaut, Mufadhal ofSana'a, Al-Shammam of Sa'dah, the Sufyan of Juban, and the Al-Jaylani of Juban.[38][39][40]
InSouth Asia, Sayyids are mostly credited for preaching and consolidating the religion of Islam. They are predominantly descendants of leading saints ofShia faith that migrated fromPersia to preach [[Islam] inIslamic Theology.[41][42]
In theIslamic Republic of Afghanistan, theSayyid have been recognized as an ethnic group. On March 15, 2019, President Ashraf Ghani decreed the inclusion of the "Sadat tribe" in the electronically registered national identity documents (Tazkira).[43] The majority of Sayyids live inBalkh andKunduz in the north, as well as inNangarhar in the east. They are predominantly Sunni Muslims[citation needed], although there are some, including in Bamiyan Province, who belong to Shia Islam. These individuals are often referred to asSadat (fromArabic:سادات, the plural ofSayyid), a term traditionally used to denote the descendants ofHasan andHussein, the first Shia martyrs and sons of Ali, who are grandsons of Muhammad, particularly in the northernHejaz region and British India.[44]
The earliest migration ofSayyids from Afghanistan toNorth India took place in 1032 whenGazi Saiyyed Salar Sahu (general and brother-in-law ofSultanMahmud of Ghazni) and his sonGhazi Saiyyad Salar Masud established their military headquarters atSatrikh (16 km (9.9 mi) fromZaidpur) in theBarabanki district of Uttar Pradesh. They are considered to be the first Muslim settlers in North India. In 1033 Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud was killed at the battle ofBahraich, the location of hismazar. Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud had no children. His parental uncle Syed Maroofuddin Ghazi and his family lived inTijara until 1857 before they migrated to Bhopal.Syed Ahmed Rizvi Kashmiri and Khan Bahadur Aga Syed Hussain were bothRizviSayyids through Aaqa Meer Sayyid Hussain Qomi Rizvi, whose sacred shrine is in the Zainageer Village of Sopore,Kashmir. IraqiSayyids orIraqi biradri in Eastern Uttar Pradesh are descendants ofSayyid Masud Al Hussaini who was the direct descendant of Muhammad's grandson Hussain ibn Ali and came to India from Iraq during the reign of Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq in 1330 A.D. He settled with his seven sons and forty champions in Ghazipur (U.P.) as some of them (i.e., Syed Abu Bakr in Nonahra, Ghazipur) converted to Sunni Islam in the reign of Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi around 1517. His Shia descendants are now known asSayyids of Ghazipur.[45]
Sayyids of Syed nagli, or Said Nagli, or the Baquari Syeds had migrated fromTermez (Present day Uzbekistan)[46] during the Sultanate era.Sikandar Lodi[47] was the ruler of Delhi when Mir Syed Mohammad al Hussain al Hussaini al Termezi Haji al Haramain came to India and settled atSyed Nagli. He was a Baquari Syed who drew his lineage fromMuhammad al Baqir.
Perhaps the most important figure in the history of the Sayyid in Uttar Pradesh was Sayyid Basrullah Shustari, who moved fromMashad inIran in 1549 and joined the court of theMughal EmperorAkbar. Akbar appointed Shustari as his chief justice, who used his position to strengthen the status of the variousSayyid families. They were preferred in administrative posts and formed a privileged elite. When the Mughal Empire disintegrated, theSayyid played an important role in the turbulent politics of the time. The new British colonial authorities that replaced theMughals after theBattle of Buxar made a pragmatic decision to work with the variousSayyidjagirdars. SeveralSayyidtaluqdars inAwadh were substantial landowners under the British colonial regime, and many otherSayyid contributed to state administration.[48] After the abolition of thezamindari system, manySayyid zamindars (e.g. that ofGhazipur) had to leave their homes.[49]
The ancestor of the BārhaSayyids, Sayyid Abu'l Farah Al Hussaini Al Wasti, left his original home inWasit, Iraq, with his twelve sons at the end of the 13th century and migrated to India, where he obtained four villages inSirhind-Fategarh. By the 16th century Abu'l Farah's descendants had taken over Bārha villages inMuzaffarnagar.[50]
The Sayyeds ofAbdullapur Meerut are descendants of great saintJalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari. They had a large Jagirdara consisting of 52 villages.Abdullapur named after Syed Mir Abdulla Naqvi Al Bukhari, he built Kot Fort of this place in the 16th century, it was his main residence.[51][52][53][54] Bukhari of Abdullapur are fractionate into Kannauji Bukhari and Jalal Bukhari. Kannauji's are descendants of Jalaludin Haider through Syed Mehboob Alam Naqvi-ul Bukhari Al-Maroof Shah Jewna orShah Jewna son of warrior and chief advisor ofSikandar Lodi.[55][56][57][58] Famous writer Syed Qudrat Naqvi Al Bukhari was born here later migrated to Pakistan after partition, his famous books are Ghalib kaun hai, Asaas-i-Urdu, Ghalib-i-sad rang, Seerat-un-Nabi, Hindi-Urdu lughat, Mutal'a-i-Abdul Haq, Lisani maqalaat.[59]
The Sayyids of Safipur are HUSSAINI Sayyids They are descendants of great saint Makhdoom Shah Ala Jajmawi Zanjani(He Was born in Zanjan (1175). his father was first migrated from Zanjan, Iran to India his name was qazi siraj uddin hasan zanjani . He was the chief qazi of Zanjan Iran.[60]
TheSayyids of Bilgram are Hussaini Sayyids, who first migrated from Wasit, Iraq, in the 13th century.[61] Their ancestor, Syed Mohammad Sughra, a ZaidiSayyid of Iraq, arrived in India during the rule ofSultanIltutmish. In 1217–18 the family conquered and settled in Bilgram.[62]
A notable Sufi that belonged to aSayyid family was Syed Salar Masud, from whom many of the Sayyid families ofAwadh claim their lineage.[48]Sayyids ofSalon (Raebareli),Jarwal (Bahraich),Kintoor (Barabanki), and Zaidpur (Barabanki) were well-knownTaluqadars (feudal lords) of Awadh province.
Sadaat also found inKannauj trace their lineage from Husayn throughAli al-Hadi, a branch of Naqvi Bukhari. Famous Pir Syed Mehboob Alam Naqvi-ul Bukhari Al-MaroofShah Jewna son of great warrior Syed Sadaruddin Shah Kabeer Naqvi (saint and also chief advisor) ofSikandar Lodi was also born in Kannauj and spent 66yrs of his life in kannauj later moved toShah Jeewna. Makhdoom Jahaniya Mosque is still present in Shikana, Kannauj.[56][58][57] NawabSiddiq Hasan Khan was also from Kannauj, he is a Bukhari Naqvi Sayyed converted from Shi'a Islam to Sunni Islam in the early 1800s.[63][64][65]
There are different families of syeds in Bihar who belong to direct descendants of Imam Hasan and Imam Hussain. Mostly there are Hussaini (Rizvi, Zaidi, Baqri) along with Hasani (Malik, Quadri or Geelani). Sadaat are settle in different part of bihar including shia and sunni sects. They are mostly migrated to bihar from Iraq and Iran.
Sharafuddin Maneri[66] belongs to Banu Hashim family of Imam Taj Faqih. In Bihar, Sayyids were landlords, judges, barristers, intellectuals, civil servant, clerics, teachers, businessmen and farmers. Sufi Saint and a warriorMalik Ibrahim Bayu who conquered Bihar during the time of tughlaq is one the most famous personality in bihar. Bihar's first prime ministerMohammad Yunus[67][68] Nobel prize nominee and Padma shri winnerSyed Hassan,[69] Political ScientistAbu Bakr Ahmad Haleem[70] was the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Aligarh University and Karachi University, The greatAbdul Bari,[71][72][73]Zaid Hamid Syed Zaid Zaman Hamid is a Pakistani far-right, Islamist political commentator and was included in 500 most influential Muslims in world and Brigadier Malik Mokhtar Karim[74] are few names from Malik Sadaat of Bihar.
Zaidi Sadaat of Bihar are the descendants of Sufi saint Syed Ahmad Jajneri and Syed Mohammed Jajneri. Syed Ahmad Jajneri migrated to India from Baghdad during the reign ofMuhammad of Ghor and later migrated toBihar. He was the direct descendant ofZayd ibn Ali who was the grandson ofHusayn ibn Ali and therefore his descendants are calledHusseini(Zaidi)Sadaat. His descendants are mostly settled inBihar Sharif,Munger,Sheikhpura andJamui region of Bihar.
In Kerala, a number of Sayyid families (Qabila) are found. Most of them migrated from Arabian peninsula (Yemen'sHadharamout) and Central Asian region in the Middle Ages and settled under the patronage ofZamorins. Famous among are Jifris, Bukharis and Ba-Alawis.[78]
Sayyids occupy various positions as jurists (qazi), scholars (ulama') and leaders (umara'). The state leaders ofIndian Union Muslim League andSamastha are mostly chosen fromPanakkad Thangal Family. A religious educational institute named 'Sadath Academy' was established in Kerala exclusively for Sayyid students.[79]
Genetic studies and controversy of self-proclaimed Indian Sayyids
Classical multidimensional scaling based onRSTgenetic distances showing the genetic affinities of the Syeds with their non-IHL (Islamic honorific lineages) neighbours from India and Pakistan (both in bold characters) and with various other Arab populations
The authors of the study, theY chromosomes of self-identified Syeds from the Indian sub-continent are no less diverse than those non-Syeds from the same regions, suggested that Syed status showed evidence of elevated Arab ancestry but not of a recent commonpatrilineal origin.[80]
InNorthern India,Uttar Pradesh &Bihar 0.2 per cent of theSunni Muslim belong tohaplogroup J1, which, given its absence in Indian non-Muslims is likely ofexogenous Middle Eastern origin. There are 18 per cent belonging mainly tohaplogroup J2 and another 11 per cent belong tohaplogroup J1, which both represent Middle Eastern lineages, but may not hint exact descent from Muhammad. J1 is exclusively Near Eastern. The results for Sayyids showed minor but still detectable levels of gene flow primarily from Iran, rather than directly from theArabian peninsula.[81]
The paper, "Y chromosomes of self-identified Syeds from the Indian subcontinent", by Elise M. S. Belle, Saima Shah,Tudor Parfitt, andMark G. Thomas showed that "self-identified Syeds had no less genetic diversity than those non-Syeds from the same regions, suggesting that there is no biological basis to the belief that self-identified Syeds in this part of the world share a recent common ancestry. However, self-identified men belonging to the IHL (Syeds, Hashemites, Quraysh and Ansari) show greater genetic affinity to Arab populations—despite the geographic distance, than other Indian populations.[82]
Most of the AlawiSayyids who moved toSoutheast Asia were descendants ofAli ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin, especially ofBa 'Alawi sada, many of which were descendants of migrants from Hadhramaut. Even though they are only "alleged" descendants ofHusayn, it is uncommon for the female Sayyids to be calledSayyidah; they are more commonly calledSharifah. Most of them live inBrunei,Indonesia,Malaysia,Singapore,Moro Province inPhilippines,Pattani andCambodia. Many of the royal families of this region such as the previous royal families of the Philippines (Sultanate of Sulu, Sultanate of Maguindanao, Confederation of Sultanates of Ranao), Country of Singapore (Sultanate of Singapore House of Bendahara), Country of Malaysia (Sultanates of Johor House of Temenggong,Sultanates of Pahang andSultanates of Terengganu House of Bendahara,Kingdom of Perlis House of Jamalullail), Country of Indonesia (Sultanates of Siak, Sultanates of Pontianak, Sultanates of Gowa, some Javanese Sultanates), Country of Brunei (Sultanates of Brunei House of Bolkiah) are also Sayyids, especially of Ba'Alawi.[83][84][85][86]
Some common surnames of theseSayyids are Al-Saqqaf (or As-Saqqaf, Assegaf, Assegaff,Al-Sagoff), Shihab (or Shahab), Al-idaroos (or Al-Aydrus, Al Aidrus, Alaydrus,House of Bendahara,House of Temenggong), Al-Habsyi (or Al-Habshi), Al-Kaff, Al-Aththos (or Al-Attas, Alattas, Alattos), Al-Haddad Alhaddad), Al-Jufri (or Al-Jifri), Al-Muhdhar, Al-Shaikh Abubakar, Al-Qadri, Al-Munawwar, Al-Akbar Al-Hasani (orAl Akbar Al Hasani,Al-Bolkiah,House of Bolkiah), Al-Jamalullail (or Al Jamalullail, Djamalullail,House of Jamalullail).[87]
In theOttoman Empire, tax breaks for "thePeople of the House" encouraged many people to buy certificates of descent or forge genealogies; the phenomenon ofteseyyüd – falsely claiming noble ancestry – spread across ethnic, class, and religious boundaries. In the 17th century, an Ottoman bureaucrat estimated that there were 300,000 impostors. In 18th-centuryAnatolia, nearly all upper-class urban people claimed descent from Muhammad.[88][89]
TheSayyids in Libya are Sunni, including the former royal family, which isoriginally Zaidi-Moroccan (also known as theSenussi family).[90] The El-Barassa Family areAshraf as claimed by the sons of Abdulsalam ben Meshish, a descendant ofHassan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib.
The Sultanates of Sulu, Lanao, and Maguindanao hold a significant place in Philippine history, rooted deeply in both cultural heritage and religious identity. It is claimed that these Sultanates trace their lineage to the Prophet Muhammad, upholding the tenets of Sunni Ash'ari in Aqeeda (theological creed) and adhering to the Shafi'i school of thought in Fiqh (jurisprudence). Central to their spiritual and intellectual tradition are the teachings of Sufi missionaries from theBa 'Alawi sada, whose influence has played a pivotal role in shaping the religious landscape of the region.[95]
The majority of Muslims in the Philippines adhere to the Sunni Ash'ari creed and follow the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence, reflecting the enduring influence of these traditions within the Sultanates and beyond. Furthermore, there exists a profound respect for, and in many cases, the practice of Sufism among Filipino Muslims. Sufism, with its emphasis on spiritual purification and the pursuit of inner knowledge, resonates deeply with the cultural and religious fabric of the Filipino Muslim community.[96]
Note: (For non-Arabic speakers) When transliterating Arabic words into English there are two approaches.
1. The user may transliterate the word letter for letter (e.g., "الزيدي" becomes "a-l-z-ai-d-i").
2. The user may transcribe the pronunciation of the word (e.g., "الزيدي" becomes "a-zz-ai-d-i"); in Arabic grammar, some consonants (n, r, s, sh, t andz) cancel thel (ل) from the word "the"al (ال) (seesun and moon letters). When the user sees the prefixesan,ar,as,ash,at,az, etc... this means the word is the transcription of the pronunciation.
Ani,wi (Arabic), ori,vi (Persian) ending could perhaps be translated by the English suffixes-ite or-ian. The suffix transforms a personal name or place name into the name of a group of people connected by lineage or place of birth. HenceAhmad al-Hassani could be translated asAhmad, the descendant of Hassan, andAhmad al-Manami asAhmad from the city ofManama. For further explanation, seeArabic names.
1Also, El-Husseini, Al-Husseini, Husseini, and Hussaini.
2Those who use the termSayyid for all descendants of Ali ibn Abi Talib regardAllawis or Alavis as Sayyids. However, Allawis are not descendants of Muhammad, as they are descended from the children of Ali and the women he married after the death of Fatima, such asUmm ul-Banin (Fatima bint Hizam). Those who limit the termSayyid to descendants of Muhammad through Fatima,Alawites are the same howSayyids.
^Morimoto, Kazuo, ed. (2012).Sayyids and Sharifs in Muslim Societies: The Living Links to the Prophet (illustrated ed.).Routledge. pp. 2, 11.ISBN978-0-415-51917-5.Reliable statistics showing the number of the Prophet's kinsfolk, spread all through the Muslim world and far beyond it, are not available. Even a conservative estimate, however, would suggest that the number of kinsfolk is in the tens of millions.
^Lawrence, Walter R. (2005).The valley of Kashmir. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. p. 292.ISBN81-206-1630-8.OCLC65200978.
^Tazkare Khwanadane Hazrat Eshan (genealogy of the family of Hazrat Eshan)(by author and investigator:Muhammad Yasin Qasvari Naqshbandi company:Edara Talimat Naqshbandiyya Lahore)p. 58
^Khuihami, Ghulam Hasan; Pushp, P. N (4 August 1954).Tarikh-i Hassan. Research & Publ. Dpt., Jammu & Kashmir Gov.OCLC69327348 – via Open WorldCat.
^Suraiya Gull in "Development of Sufi Kubraviya Order with Special Reference to Mir Saiyid Ali Hamadani", p. 8
^abTazkare Khanwade Hazrat Ishaan, p. 61, by Muhammad Yasin Qaswari Naqshbandi, published by Kooperatis Lahorin, Edare Talimat Naqshbandiyya
^Floor, Willem; Herzig, Edmund (2015).Iran and the World in the Safavid Age. I.B.Tauris. p. 20.ISBN978-1-78076-990-5.Archived from the original on 3 September 2017.In fact, at the start of the Safavid period Twelver Shi'ism was imported into Iran largely from Syria and Mount Lebanon (...)
^abThe failure of political Islam, by Olivier Roy, Carol Volk, pg.170
^abThe Cambridge illustrated history of the Islamic world, by Francis Robinson, pg.72
^abThe Middle East and Islamic world reader, by Marvin E. Gettleman, Stuart Schaar, pg.42
^abThe Encyclopedia of world history: ancient, medieval, and modern ... by Peter N. Stearns, William Leonard Langer, pg.360
^"Imam Abdallah ibn Alawi al-Haddad". Notes on Islam. April 30, 2012. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
^Canbakal, Hülya (2009). "The Ottoman State and Descendants of the Prophet in Anatolia and the Balkans (c. 1500–1700)".Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient.52 (3):542–578.doi:10.1163/156852009X458241.ISSN0022-4995.
^Quiling, Mucha-Shim (2020)."Lumpang Basih".Journal of Studies on Traditional Knowledge in Sulu Archipelago and Its People, and in the Neighboring Nusantara.3. Retrieved20 May 2023.
^Abdurahman, Habib Jamasali Sharief Rajah Bassal (2002).The Sultanate of Sulu. University of Michigan: Astoria Print. & Publishing Company. p. 88.ISBN9789719262701.
^Tazkare Khwanadane Hazrat Eshan(genealogy of the family of Hazrat Eshan)(by author and investigator: Muhammad bin Nusayr company:Edara Talimat Naqshbandiyya Lahore)p. 63