The Islamic Aristocracy of Ashraf Class
(Chapter 13)
The Aristocracy at the top of pyramid of Islamic society is the eye, ear and brain which decides the course of action for the rest of Islamic society. Rest merely follow the aristocracy. Islamic scriptures like the Quran and Hadith are often quoted to negate the existence of social stratification among Muslims. Yet the Muslim aristocracy rely on the very same scriptures to legitimise the discussions on descent and lineage.
Caste discrimination
Mughal Emperors and their associated ashraf showed no hesitation in marrying ‘upper’ caste Hindu women, they regarded inter-marriage with indigenous Muslims of Shudra origin with horror.
Akbar issued the following edict:
‘In the towns, the low-born (arzal) should be prohibited from acquiring education, because if these communities do so, it will lead to great strife (fitna)
The noted historian Abul Fazl (d. 1602), a close confidante of Akbar, is said to have remarked, ‘I refuse to regard a statement of a mere confectioner (Halwai), cobbler (Mochi) or skin-seller (charm farosh) as evidence.’
The Ashraf Class
Sharif, in Arabic does not mean trustworthy or honest as it is used in Hindi/Urdu. It means noble or superior. Ashraf is the plural of Sharif.
The Ashraf (Arabic romanized: ‘āshrāf) are persons descended (or claiming descent) from Muhammad by way of his daughter Fatimah. The word with long ā in the second system, is the plural of sharīf “noble”, from sharafa “to be high-born”, but ašhraf, with short a, is the elative of sharīf meaning “very noble”, “nobler”, “noblest”.
The Islamic Pyramid
On top of the pyramid of Islamic society is Quraysh. The superior position of Quraysh is sanctioned from the Holy Quran itself. Chapter 106 provides as under:
“(1) For the accustomed security of the Quraysh; (2) Their accustomed security [in] the caravan of winter and summer; (3) Let them worship the Lord of this House; (4) Who has fed them, (saving them) from hunger and made them safe, (saving them) from fear.
There is a hadith attributed to Holy Prophet in which he says: “Allah chose Isma’il from the children of Ibrahim; from his descendants He chose Kinānah; from Kinānah He chose Quraysh; from Quraysh He chose Banu Hashim; and from Banu Hashim He chose me.” This hadith appears in prominent collections such as Jami at-Tirmidhi (Hadith 3605) and Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal (Hadith 16986).
Therefore, the descendants of Prophet that is seyyids wear black turbans following the practice of their noble ancestor, the Holy Prophet.
The Society
In Islamic practices, Muslims, according to their birth belong to three classes. On top of the pyramid is Sharif (Plural is Ashraf). Below them are Ajlaaf i.e. those who or their ancestors converted to Islam. Below them are Arjaal, which is a pejorative to those Muslim who do manual work for living like weavers, washer-men or barber. These three are though Muslims and not equal but yet form a part of the social hierarchy which comprises Muslim Society.
Below this level is Mamluk or armed slaves and below them are Abd (Ghulam) or domestic slaves. Next in hierarchy is Laundy or sex slave. Then there are ahl-e-kitab like Christians and Jews who can be accepted as Dhimmi (Zimmi) and subjected to Zazia. Below them are Mushrik or polytheist and Kafir (non-muslims) who are liable to be killed wherever found.
The Country
Sharif or Ashraaf almost always treat themselves as foreigners. The distinction between “foreign” Muslims and Indian Muslims is more an act of mind than reality. Most of the Turks, Iranians, and Afghans were only partially descended from these groups. They and their ancestors for generations lived in India and intermarried with local women. At the time of independence in 1947 a number of ‘designated’ Indian Muslims had the same mixed ancestry as anybody yet they claim to be outright Iranians, Turks, or Afghans through surnames resembling foreign cities like Korsan, Sherwani (Iran), Bukhari (Samarkand) etc. They often choose violent first names like Saif (meaning Sword) or Taimur (the lame?) etc. to preserve their past memory as invaders.
In ordinary discourse they use the term “this country” while referring to India instead of my country or our country like any other person. Pasmanda Muslims have no such qualms or confusion about their country.
Pasmanda
Muslims who were categorised broadly as occupational classes with their names derived from specific occupations, such as Julahas (weaver) or Qasabs (Butcher) form the bottom group of converted Muslims. They are referred to as Ajlaaf and Arjaal in Arabic. But in popular discourse, it is collectively called Pasmanda (depressed) Muslims. They are the foot soldiers.
British are long gone. India became a democracy with same voting rights for all. Yet the inferior position of pasmanda muslims has not changed. All Ministers, present or past; Judges, Governors as also the President in India since 1947 were mostly from this Aristocracy. Kalam was the only non-asharaf President of India and no Urs is celebrated for him anywhere.
In this entire series of articles from Chapter 1 to Chapter 14 we will not find a single sharif or ashraf doing any act of jihad himself. They do not dirty their hands. They have foot soldiers to wage war for their entitlement. The Modern Jihad is being fought on the shoulders of Pasmanda Muslims. The Kettle is hotter than the tea.
In the next Chapter we will discuss how the entitlements reinforce the belief and create a new Medina inside Corporate Quarters.
References:
- Caste System under Mughals: https://www.newageislam.com/books-documents/masood-alam-falahi-tr-new-age-islam/caste-caste-based-discrimination-among-indian-muslims-part-9-evidence-mughal-period/d/3658
- See all chapters on Modern Jihad: https://sandeepbhalla.in/tag/modern-jihad/