# Can a non-Muslim descendant of the Prophet claim sharif status?

*Mufti Abu Layth on whether a Christian can claim sharif status*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/w6tqwuuumcg/s/22/
- Date: 2020-10-27 · Kind: question · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti #188 | Q&A Unscripted & Unrestricted! 😉 | Mufti Abu Layth (2:27:42–2:31:27)
- Status: general teaching
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6TqWuUumCg&t=8862s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/w6tqwuuumcg/

**Topics:** Race, nation and identity

**Question as asked:** Can a Christian claim sharif or sayyid status?

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** Mufti Abu Layth says sharif status is a political institution rather than something Islam brought, and descendants of the Prophet can be non-Muslims.

**Checked position (checked by two independent reviews, not by the channel):** Mufti Abu Layth says sharif status is more a political thing and not really something Islam inherently brings with it.

**Evidence, his words at 2:28:39:** “this sharif status is more a political thing. It's not really something that Islam inherently brings with it.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6TqWuUumCg&t=8919s)

## Longer summary

After saying he has heard good things about Juan Cole's book on the Prophet but not read it, Mufti Abu Layth takes a question from a Christian of prophetic descent who asks whether a Christian can claim sharif status. Mufti says sharif status is more a political thing than something Islam inherently brought, though Islam's governance allowed it to be created. He says many descendants of the Prophet over 1,400 years will not have been Muslim, and that some states, especially Morocco in the past, gave the shurafa a stipend, and Pakistan may have something in theory because they cannot take zakat.

## Sources and names cited

- sharif
- descendants of the Prophet
- zakat
- Juan Cole

## Transcript (machine tier, 2:27:42–2:31:27)

[2:27:41] Uh Muisab, have you read Juan Coo's book on the prophet? What do you think? I've heard great things about it. I haven't read it yet. No. Right. So, uh, Kiwi Rockstar says, "Please answer." I'm not sure what the question is to answer. Let me just go back, take a look. Nope, I can't see a question.

[2:28:07] I hope that was the question. Right. Uh, Mui, I am Sharif. Andrea Alak says, "I am a US Catholic guy engaged to a desi Muslim girl." [laughter] You dude, look at all the intricate [snorts] as a genealogologist.

[2:28:39] I have proven I am parents finally accept me. Can a Christian claim Sharif or say it status? [laughter] [clears throat] Okay, this sharif status is more a political thing. It's not really something that Islam inherently brings with it.

[2:29:06] Although Islam from its governance aspect allows the system to kind of create these things for political purposes. So, it's not I'm not saying it's an unislamic thing that Islam doesn't allow for it to be created, but Islam did not bring it. Islam didn't really bring this lineage kind of thing.

[2:29:31] Um, can people be aud Muslim? Yeah, people can be aud Muslim. I'm sure there have been many people who descended from the lineage of the prophet who went on not to be Muslim. I'm sure there's been many over the last 1400 years. Obviously, they would be an extreme minority, but still when you're counting millions of people, I'm sure there's many who didn't really believe in Islam, but were ultimately somehow related to the prophet.

[2:30:08] But yeah, as to the status then this was something that certain countries did, certain rulers had this. I know um North Africa, Morocco especially did have this modern day Morocco but the Mib in the past had this thing that Shurafha could claim uh a financial entitlement. They had a stipen they had this kind of uh benefit a statutory benefit that was given to them.

[2:30:36] this thing. I don't think I in fact I think several Muslim countries still have it in theory but I'm not sure whether they practice it. So I think Pakistan may have something for say because they're not allowed zakat. So there might be something in theory but whether they really get it or not I think is unlikely. Hope that answers your question Sharif.

[2:31:00] I Sharif you do [laughter] a check. Sharif is raking in the benefits [laughter] of Islam without embracing Islam. I have remote access. [laughter] You're doing it. You're doing it. Uh Zayn says, "Muy, please answer my super chat.

[2:31:26] It was asked a while ago." I'm not sure what it was. I don't know if I can see it here. Let's see. Um saying has followed. Uh can I see anything here? Okay. According to the Quran, there's no such thing as the right meaning all forms of chicken and beef are halal because it sounds pretty backwards, right?

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment w6TqWuUumCg/s/22. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/w6tqwuuumcg/s/22/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.