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:

Dear Burhan,

As salaam alaikum,

At the outset I would like to thank you for the wonderful job you have been doing ,by enlightening people on the true knowledge of Islam. Indeed your website has been a boon for a sinner like me and opened my eyes really wide to understand the true meaning of Islam and what our Prophet ( May Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him) taught us.

May Allah reward you for your efforts.

I have a question on the lineage of Sayeds and what are the true signs of a Sayed? Kindly also enlighten me as to who were the true people who belonged to the family of Sayeds. If possible please give me the family tree of Sayeds,right upto the ones whose names are available on record.

A prompt response in this regard is highly anticipated from your end. 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Who are the Sayeds

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.

May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best of this world and the Hereafter for your kind comments of encouragement for our humble efforts in the propagation of the Truth. If our humble and modest efforts have helped even one brother or sister get closer to Allah and His Deen of Truth, then we would consider ourselves indeed fortunate to have been given this opportunity by the Lord Most Merciful to serve in His Cause. We hope, beg, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our shortcomings, and saves you, us, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire. Ameen.

Your Question: I have a question on the lineage of Sayeds and what are the true signs of a Sayed? Kindly also enlighten me as to who were the true people who belonged to the family of Sayeds.

The literal meaning of the Arabic term ‘Syed’ means a ‘leader’; and is generally used as a title of respect in the Arabic language. For some unknown reason, in the Indian subcontinent this term ‘syed’ has taken on a completely different meaning and connotation and is used to identify someone who is regarded as a descendant of the Holy Prophet (saws). This is a complete incorrect usage of the term ‘syed’. The correct title or name for the descendants of the Noble Prophet Mohamed (saws) is ‘Hashimi’ or ‘Banu Hashim’ which was the name of the tribe of the Prophet (saws).

There are no particular signs that one is a direct descendant of the Noble Prophet (saws); thus if one claims that he is a ‘Hashimi’ or from the ‘Banu Hashim’ today, he should be taken at face value and no more. What happened was that a lot of people who came from the Arab region to the subcontinent came to be recognized with titles of honor like ‘syed’, and it is also possible that some of these people might have been direct descendants of the Prophet (saws). But with time, the term ‘syed’ took on a completely different meaning and connotation in the subcontinent, and it became synonymous with being from the ‘Banu Hashim’ or family of Prophet Mohamed (saws).

Unlike the pagan cultures, the deen and culture of the religion of Truth Al-Islam does not propagate differentiation between one believer and another because of his caste, or his tribe, or his color, or his race, etc. In the Sight of Allah Subhanah all of mankind are the children of Adam, and the barometer or criteria of the superiority of one over another is based on only one criteria: ‘taqwa’ (piety, righteousness, etc.).

Allah says in the Holy Quran: Chapter 49 Surah Hujurat verse 13:
O mankind, We created you from one man and one woman, and then divided you into nations and tribes so that you may recognize one another. Indeed, the most honorable among you in the sight of Allah is he who is the most pious of you. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Islam does not bestow honor on a person because of his lineage or heritage; but true honor depends on the belief and deeds of that person. Thus if one is impious and unrighteous, even if he happens to be a direct descendant of the Noble Prophet Mohamed (saws), he has no honor in the Sight of Allah; and if one is extremely pious and righteous and truly fears Allah, even if he happens to be a direct descendant of one of the staunchest enemies of Allah and Islam like the Pharaoh or Abu Jahl, he is honorable in the Sight and Presence of Allah Subhanah, The Supreme Lord and Master of the Universe.

Your Question: If possible please give me the family tree of Sayeds,right upto the ones whose names are available on record.

If your usage of the term ‘Syed’ implies the family or descendants of the Prophet (saws) or the ‘Banu Hashim’, to the best of my knowledge I am not aware that a ‘family tree’ of the ‘Banu Hashim’ upto present times does actually exist on record; and even if it does, we do not have access to it.

The ones I have personally seen only give the names of the direct descendants of the Prophet (saws) upto about 7-10 generations after the Prophet (saws); but Allah Alone Knows if a ‘family tree’ of the ‘Banu Hashim’ upto present times is actually on record.

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