Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

In refernce to Question No.4464

I have been told that i am a syed,

Does this mean that i`cant accept sad`qa, or food from other people...

But i`m not sure wheather i really am or not, so what is the correct rulling regarding the circumstances?

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Answer:

Syed Charity

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The literal meaning of the Arabic term ‘Syed’ is a ‘leader’, and is used in colloquial Arabic as a term for respect like ‘Mr.’ in the English language.

There is no particular sect, tribe or family which is known as ‘Syeds’. This ‘Syed’ term for some reason has become synonymous in the Indo-Pak region to mean a descendant of the Noble Messenger of Allah (saws) and is most probably derived from the early Arab settlers who came to the Indo-Pak region and were called ‘Syeds’ in respect by the local population.

The descendants of the Noble Prophet of Allah (saws) are better known as the Banu-Hashim or the Hashimites.

There are a lot of people in the Indian Subcontinent who call themselves ‘Syeds’ and connote that they are descendants of the Messenger of Allah (saws). They may or may not be the direct descendants of the Prophet (saws) or from the Banu Hashim, and Allah Subhanah Alone knows best.

Your Statement: I have been told that i am a syed,

Does this mean that i`cant accept sad`qa, or food from other people... But i`m not sure wheather i really am or not, so what is the correct rulling regarding the circumstances?

The Prophet (saws) declared: "Indeed, Sadaqah ought not to be given to the family of Muhammad ..."

Related by Muslim.

Abu Hurairah reported that when the Prophet’s (saws) grandson, al-Hasan bin Ali (r.a.) took one date from the Sadaqah dates, the Prophet (saws) said to him: "Nay, spit it out! Don't you know that we (the family of Mohammed (saws)) cannot eat from charity?"

Related by Bukhari and Muslim.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.750 Narrated by Abu Huraira

Whenever a meal was brought to Allah's Messenger (saws), he would ask whether it was a gift or Sadaqa (something given in charity). If he (saws) was told that it was from Sadaqa, he (saws) would tell his companions to eat it, but if it was a gift, he (saws) would hurry to share it with them.

Beloved brother, if indeed you are amongst the descendants of the Prophet’s family or the Banu Hashim, then the accepting of Sadaqah or Zakah would be forbidden for you.

Being called a Syed by itself does not imply that you are from the Banu Hashim. Only you or your surviving elders might be able to tell with conviction whether indeed you are amongst the descendants of the Noble Prophet’s family or the Banu Hashim. If you are not from the descendants of Banu Hashim, then indeed there would be absolutely no harm in you accepting Sadaqah or Zakah from the believers.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan