Sayyid of Gujarat
Encyclopedia
The Sayyid (plural sādah ) of Gujarat are members of the wider Sayyid
community of South Asia
. They are also known as Mir and Pirzada
.
itself, the word is the equivalent of the English "Mister", as in Sayyid John Smith. The same concept is expressed by the word sidi
(from the contracted form sayyidī 'my lord') in the Moroccan dialect of Arabic
.
As an honorific
title, the term Sayyid is given to males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad
through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali
and Husain ibn Ali, who were the sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib. Daughters of male sayyids are given the titles Sayyida, Alawiyah, Syarifah, or Sharifah. Children of a Sayyida mother but a non-Sayyid father cannot be attributed the title of Sayyid, however they may claim maternal descent and are called Mirza
Sayyids are Arab
s by origin, and Sayyids and are by descent a branch of the tribe of Banu Hashim
, a clan from the tribe of Quraish, which traces its lineage to Adnan
, whose lineage traces back to the Prophet Ismael
the son of the Prophet Ibrahim or Abraham
. In Gujarat, most of the Sayyid
families are descended from individuals invited by the Muslim
rulers of Gujarat, as advisor and administrators, and granted jagir
s. During the period of Mughal
rule in Gujarat (1570–1750), they held the majority of the civil and ecclesiastical posts. For example the Sayyids of Thasra, Kheda district were invited as administrators and judges by Emperor Aurangzeb and provided land grants to settle there. They also provided an important element in the Mughal
army, and many are still found in the old Muslim
garrison towns such as Ahmedabad
. In addition, many of the early Sufi saints that came to Gujarat belonged to Sayyid
families. Most of these Sayyid
families came from Central Asia
and Iran
, but many of those found in the coastal towns of Khambhat
and Surat
originate from Yemen
, Oman
, Basra
and Bahrain
.
In Gujarat, the Sayyid have ten sub-divisions, the main ones being the Shirazi
, Mattari, Bukhari, Naqvi
, Tirmizi, Zaidi, Rifai, Bhaktari, Qadiris, Chishti, mahdavi
, Kitoi, Mashadi, Idrusi, and Bahraini. Of these, the Bukhari Sayyid
s are perhaps the most well known. Their forebear, Syed Burhanuddin Qutb-Alam was the patron sain of Sultan
Muzaffar Shah, the first Muslim
Sultan
of Gujarat. Even more well known was his son Shah Alam, who flourished during the reigns of Qutibudin Shah and Mahmud Begada
. It played an important in the medieval and early modern history of Gujarat, and now divided into several branches. Other prominent Sayyid include the Mahdavi
family. They are now found mainly in Palanpur
and Dabhoi
, and claim descent form Syed Muhammad Jaunpuri, the founder of the sect and his son in law Syed Khundmir
. They are the hereditary pir
s of the Tai
community. And finally, the family of the Nizari
Ismaili
pirs is perhaps the most influential of the Gujarat Sayyid
. They are distributed all over Gujarat, and descend from Imam Shah, a famous medieval Ismaili
missionary. The Dais (heads) of the Mustali Ismaili
, known in Gujarat as the Bohra, are also Sayyid
s.
Other communities include the Bahrain Sayyid,whose ancestors arrived from Bahrain
during the rule of Sultan
Mahmud Begada
, the Matari Syeds who arrived from the village of Mattar in Sindh
during the period of Mughal
rule. The ancestors of the Khodari Syeds were invited by the Nawab
s of Junagadh
, while those of the Bukhari Sayyids arrived from Central Asia
as the invitation of Sultan
Ahmed Shah. The community now speak both Gujarati
and Urdu
, and are concentrated in Kutch, Gandhinagar, Baroda, and Bhavnagar
, with two thirds of the Sayyid found in Baroda.
, the Tirmizi are found in Mangrol
, Junagadh
, and Keshool. They are divided into endogamous sub-divisions, the Shia and Sunni, based on sectarian affiliation. Both the Sunni and Shia Sayyid consist of a number of clans. The Matari and Tirmizi Sayyid are deemed to be of superior status among the Shia, while the Kodai have a similar superior status among the Sunnis. In addition to the Matari and Tirmizi, the Shia Sayyid consist of six further lineages, the Abidi, Rizvi, Naqvi, Zaidi, Kazmi and Jaferi.
The Sayyid are now landless community, as a consequence of the abolishing of zamindar
i system. A few rural families still practice farming and act as Pirs or religious guides to the community. But the community have now made a transition towards the taking up of professional jobs. The level of literacy is comparatively high. They are strictly endogamous, preferring marriage among close kin. The custom of kifaya
, the examination of potential mates lineages is no longer widespread as in the past. They also have a marked preference for cross cousin marriages. The Sayyid are also distinct from other Muslim
communities such as the Memon and Chhipa
, in that they do not practice the custom of satwansa, the celebration of the pregnancy at the seventh month, the weddings are less elaborate and they do not accept charity. They are generally more orthodox in their customs then neighbouring Muslim communities.
Sayyid
Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
community of South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
. They are also known as Mir and Pirzada
Pirzada
Pirzada tribe also moved with qalandar lal shahbaz and settled at sehwan sharif since last 850 years and still at sehwan there is a mohalla with name of pirzada mohalla they have their own history and pir baqadar shah the very old character and saint of sehwan sharif Pirzada is the name of a...
.
History and origin
Sayyid (plural sādah ) literally means Mister. In the Arab worldArab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
itself, the word is the equivalent of the English "Mister", as in Sayyid John Smith. The same concept is expressed by the word sidi
Sidi
Sidi is a masculine title of respect, meaning "my master" in Western Arabic language and Egyptian Arabic equivalent to modern popular usage of the English Mr....
(from the contracted form sayyidī 'my lord') in the Moroccan dialect of Arabic
Maghreb Arabic
Maghrebi Arabic or Darija is a cover term for the varieties of Arabic spoken in the Maghreb, including Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya. In Algeria, colloquial Maghrebi Arabic was taught as a separate subject under French colonization, and some textbooks exist. Speakers of Maghrebi Arabic call...
.
As an honorific
Honorific
An honorific is a word or expression with connotations conveying esteem or respect when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term is used not quite correctly to refer to an honorary title...
title, the term Sayyid is given to males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali
Hasan ibn Ali
Al-Hasan ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib is an important figure in Islam, the son of Fatimah the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and of the fourth Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib. Hasan is a member of the Ahl al-Bayt and Ahl al-Kisa...
and Husain ibn Ali, who were the sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib. Daughters of male sayyids are given the titles Sayyida, Alawiyah, Syarifah, or Sharifah. Children of a Sayyida mother but a non-Sayyid father cannot be attributed the title of Sayyid, however they may claim maternal descent and are called Mirza
Mirza
Mirza , is of Persian origin, denoting the rank of a high nobleman or Prince. It is usually translated into English as a royal or imperial Prince of the Blood...
Sayyids are Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
s by origin, and Sayyids and are by descent a branch of the tribe of Banu Hashim
Banu Hashim
Banū Hāshim was a clan in the Quraysh tribe. Muhammad, was a member of this clan; his great-grandfather was Hashim, for whom the clan is named. Members of this clan are referred to by the Anglicised version of their name as Hashemites, or Huseini or Hasani...
, a clan from the tribe of Quraish, which traces its lineage to Adnan
Adnan
Adnan is the traditional ancestor of the Adnani Arabs of northern, central and western Arabia, as opposed to the Qahtani of Southern and south eastern Arabia who descend from Qahtan.-Origin:...
, whose lineage traces back to the Prophet Ismael
Ismaël
Ismaël is a given name or surname, and may refer to:* Ismaël Alassane , Nigerien football defender* Ismaël Bangoura , Guinean football striker* Ismaël Bouzid , Algerian football player...
the son of the Prophet Ibrahim or Abraham
Abraham
Abraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
. In Gujarat, most of the Sayyid
Sayyid
Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
families are descended from individuals invited by the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
rulers of Gujarat, as advisor and administrators, and granted jagir
Jagir
In historic India, a jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond his lifetime, in recognition of his military service...
s. During the period of Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
rule in Gujarat (1570–1750), they held the majority of the civil and ecclesiastical posts. For example the Sayyids of Thasra, Kheda district were invited as administrators and judges by Emperor Aurangzeb and provided land grants to settle there. They also provided an important element in the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
army, and many are still found in the old Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
garrison towns such as Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
. In addition, many of the early Sufi saints that came to Gujarat belonged to Sayyid
Sayyid
Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
families. Most of these Sayyid
Sayyid
Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
families came from Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
and Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, but many of those found in the coastal towns of Khambhat
Khambhat
Khambhat , formerly known as Cambay, is a city and a municipality in Anand district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was formerly an important trading center, although its harbour has gradually silted up, and the maritime trade has moved elsewhere...
and Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
originate from Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
, Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
, Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
and Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
.
In Gujarat, the Sayyid have ten sub-divisions, the main ones being the Shirazi
Shirazi
- People :*Shirazi , a social group among the Swahili people of East Africa*Grand Ayatollah Mirza Hassan Shirazi, the leading marja of his time, and is widely known for his 1891 fatwa against the usage of tobacco...
, Mattari, Bukhari, Naqvi
Naqvi
The surname "Naqvi" are the descendants of Islamic Prophet Muhammad through the lineage of Ali al-Hadi...
, Tirmizi, Zaidi, Rifai, Bhaktari, Qadiris, Chishti, mahdavi
Mahdavi
Mahdavi Islam is a sect within Islam, founded by Hazrath Syed Muhammad Jaunpuri in India in the 15th century CE. Jaunpuri declared himself to be the Imam Mahdi, the prophesied redeemer in Islam, and the denomination takes its name from the term mahdi...
, Kitoi, Mashadi, Idrusi, and Bahraini. Of these, the Bukhari Sayyid
Sayyid
Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
s are perhaps the most well known. Their forebear, Syed Burhanuddin Qutb-Alam was the patron sain of Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
Muzaffar Shah, the first Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
of Gujarat. Even more well known was his son Shah Alam, who flourished during the reigns of Qutibudin Shah and Mahmud Begada
Mahmud Begada
Sultan Abu'l Fath Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah I, popularly known as Mahmud Begada was the most prominent sultan of Gujarat. He was the great-grandson of Ahmad Shah I, the founder of the Muzaffarid dynasty, and of the city of Ahmedabad in the present-day state of Gujarat, India. He was known to be...
. It played an important in the medieval and early modern history of Gujarat, and now divided into several branches. Other prominent Sayyid include the Mahdavi
Mahdavi
Mahdavi Islam is a sect within Islam, founded by Hazrath Syed Muhammad Jaunpuri in India in the 15th century CE. Jaunpuri declared himself to be the Imam Mahdi, the prophesied redeemer in Islam, and the denomination takes its name from the term mahdi...
family. They are now found mainly in Palanpur
Palanpur
Palanpur is a city and a municipality of Banaskantha district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Palanpur is the largest city and the administrative headquarters of the district....
and Dabhoi
Dabhoi
Dabhoi is a city and a municipality in Vadodara district in the state of Gujarat, India. It was originally known as Darbhavati.- History :...
, and claim descent form Syed Muhammad Jaunpuri, the founder of the sect and his son in law Syed Khundmir
Syed Khundmir
Syed Khundmir was a companion and second of five caliphs of Imam Syed Muhammad Jaunpuri. He played a major role in spreading the Mahdavia belief in India, especially Gujarat. First met Syed Muhammad Jaunpuri in the year 905 A.H and travelled with him till his death in 910 Hijri...
. They are the hereditary pir
Pir (Sufism)
Pir or Peer is a title for a Sufi master equally used in the nath tradition. They are also referred to as a Hazrat or Shaikh, which is Arabic for Old Man. The title is often translated into English as "saint" and could be interpreted as "Elder". In Sufism a Pir's role is to guide and instruct his...
s of the Tai
Tai (caste)
The Tai are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. There is also a large diaspora in the city of Karachi in Pakistan.- History and origin :...
community. And finally, the family of the Nizari
Nizari
'The Shī‘a Imami Ismā‘īlī Tariqah also referred to as the Ismā‘īlī or Nizārī , is a path of Shī‘a Islām, emphasizing social justice, pluralism, and human reason within the framework of the mystical tradition of Islam. The Nizari are the second largest branch of Shia Islam and form the majority...
Ismaili
Ismaili
' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
pirs is perhaps the most influential of the Gujarat Sayyid
Sayyid
Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
. They are distributed all over Gujarat, and descend from Imam Shah, a famous medieval Ismaili
Ismaili
' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
missionary. The Dais (heads) of the Mustali Ismaili
Ismaili
' is a branch of Shia Islam. It is the second largest branch of Shia Islam, after the Twelvers...
, known in Gujarat as the Bohra, are also Sayyid
Sayyid
Sayyid is an honorific title, it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his grandsons, Hasan ibn Ali and Husain ibn Ali, sons of the prophet's daughter Fatima Zahra and his son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib.Daughters of sayyids are given the titles Sayyida,...
s.
Other communities include the Bahrain Sayyid,whose ancestors arrived from Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
during the rule of Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
Mahmud Begada
Mahmud Begada
Sultan Abu'l Fath Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah I, popularly known as Mahmud Begada was the most prominent sultan of Gujarat. He was the great-grandson of Ahmad Shah I, the founder of the Muzaffarid dynasty, and of the city of Ahmedabad in the present-day state of Gujarat, India. He was known to be...
, the Matari Syeds who arrived from the village of Mattar in Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
during the period of Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
rule. The ancestors of the Khodari Syeds were invited by the Nawab
Nawab
A Nawab or Nawaab is an honorific title given to Muslim rulers of princely states in South Asia. It is the Muslim equivalent of the term "maharaja" that was granted to Hindu rulers....
s of Junagadh
Junagadh
Junagadh is the headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city is the 7th largest in Gujarat. The city is located at the foot of the Girnar hills, 355 km south west of state capital Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. The city is in western India. Literally translated,...
, while those of the Bukhari Sayyids arrived from Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
as the invitation of Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
Ahmed Shah. The community now speak both Gujarati
Gujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
and Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
, and are concentrated in Kutch, Gandhinagar, Baroda, and Bhavnagar
Bhavnagar
-Topography:Bhavnagar is a coastal city in the eastern coast of Saurashtra, also known as Kathiawar, located at . It has an average elevation of 24 metres . It occupies area of 53.30 km². General slope dips in the northeasterly direction at the apex of Gulf of Khambhat...
, with two thirds of the Sayyid found in Baroda.
Present circumstances
In terms of distribution, the Bukhari Sayyid are found in AhmadabadAhmadabad
Ahmadabad may refer to:Afghanistan* Ahmad Abad, Afghanistan, a place in AfghanistanAzerbaijan*Əhmədabad, Goranboy, Azerbaijan*Əhmədabad, Sabirabad, Azerbaijan*Əhmədabad, Tovuz, AzerbaijanIndia* Ahmedabad , a major city in India...
, the Tirmizi are found in Mangrol
Mangrol
Mangrol is a city and a municipality in Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Geography:Mangrol is located at . It has an average elevation of 18 metres .-Demographics:...
, Junagadh
Junagadh
Junagadh is the headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city is the 7th largest in Gujarat. The city is located at the foot of the Girnar hills, 355 km south west of state capital Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. The city is in western India. Literally translated,...
, and Keshool. They are divided into endogamous sub-divisions, the Shia and Sunni, based on sectarian affiliation. Both the Sunni and Shia Sayyid consist of a number of clans. The Matari and Tirmizi Sayyid are deemed to be of superior status among the Shia, while the Kodai have a similar superior status among the Sunnis. In addition to the Matari and Tirmizi, the Shia Sayyid consist of six further lineages, the Abidi, Rizvi, Naqvi, Zaidi, Kazmi and Jaferi.
The Sayyid are now landless community, as a consequence of the abolishing of zamindar
Zamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
i system. A few rural families still practice farming and act as Pirs or religious guides to the community. But the community have now made a transition towards the taking up of professional jobs. The level of literacy is comparatively high. They are strictly endogamous, preferring marriage among close kin. The custom of kifaya
Kifaya
Kefaya is the unofficial moniker of the Egyptian Movement for Change , a grassroots coalition which prior to the 2011 revolution drew its support from across Egypt’s political spectrum...
, the examination of potential mates lineages is no longer widespread as in the past. They also have a marked preference for cross cousin marriages. The Sayyid are also distinct from other Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
communities such as the Memon and Chhipa
Chhipa
The Chhipa are a Muslim community found in the state of Gujarat in India. A few Chhipa are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan.-History and origin:Chhipa is also hindu community which belives in Sant Namdev...
, in that they do not practice the custom of satwansa, the celebration of the pregnancy at the seventh month, the weddings are less elaborate and they do not accept charity. They are generally more orthodox in their customs then neighbouring Muslim communities.