ashrāf

Islamic caste group

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 18, 2026

Quick Summary

The term ashraf refers to a social group within Muslim communities in South Asia, particularly in India and Pakistan. This stratification developed due to the influence of Hindu culture, as many South Asian Muslims were converts from Hinduism who retained some of their previous social customs.1

The ashraf are considered descendants of Muslim immigrants, primarily from Arab regions, and are distinguished from the non-ashraf, who are converts from Hinduism. The ashraf group is further divided into four subgroups: Sayyids (descendants of Muhammad), Shaykhs (descendants of Arab or Persian immigrants, or converted Rajputs), Pashtuns (Pashto-speaking tribes), and Mughals (of Turkish origin). While Islam emphasizes equality, these social distinctions reflect historical and cultural influences.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Islamic caste
…distinction is made between the ashrāf (Arabic, plural of shārīf, “nobleman”), who are supposedly descendants of Muslim Arab immigrants, and the non-ashrāf, who are Hindu converts. The ashrāf group is further divided into four subgroups: (1) Sayyids, originally a designation of descendants of Muhammad through his daughter Fāṭimah and son-in-law…
Read More
…distinction is made between the ashrāf (Arabic, plural of shārīf, “nobleman”), who are supposedly descendants of Muslim Arab immigrants, and the non-ashrāf, who are Hindu converts. The ashrāf group is further divided into four subgroups: (1) Sayyids, originally a designation of descendants of Muhammad through his daughter Fāṭimah and son-in-law…
Read More