The reflection of Islamic tradition on Ottoman social structure: The sayyids and sharīfs

The descendants of the Prophet, known as the sayyids or sharīfs, have always enjoyed high esteem within Islamic societies. The continuation of the old Arab tribal titles and nobility together with the struggle revolving around the institution of the caliphate played a role in their appearance as a social group after the creation of the Islamic religion. The “descendants of the Prophet” (evlād-i Resūl) were considered to have been oppressed during this struggle. This accelerated the feelings of loyalty to the Prophet and the sayyids and sharīfs became more popular. Furthermore, the presence of the sayyids or sharīfs in the history of Islam can be said to be a reflection of the stratification of society due to various political and social circumstances. There have been detailed studies concerning how the special position within society of this “aristocracy of sacred descent” was accepted as legitimate by Islamic tradition.².