SAYYID

The word sayyid is derived from the Arabic root "to be lord over, to rule" and is commonly used to refer to a descendant of the prophet Muhammad (normally through his grandson al-Husayn), but can also, more generally, signify a holy person (also called wali). Descendants of the Prophet are accorded respect, particularly in Shi?ism, but also in Sunni Islam. In Shi?ism, respect is generally preserved for descendants of Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet, through her marriage to Imam ?Ali. In Twelver Shi?ism, sayyids gain this respect through their genealogy, including relation to one of the Twelve Imams, and many contemporary Shi?ite families claim sayyid status. In Zaydi Shi?ism, the leader of the community must be a descendant of the Prophet for his rule to be legitimate. In Sunni Islam, sayyids have certain legal privileges over non-sayyids. In all these branches of Islam, the privileged status of sayyids is perhaps most obvious in the rules concerning marriage, where a sayyida (female descendant) should marry only a sayyid to preserve the "equity" (kafa?a) status in the marriage. In popular religion, descendants of the Prophet in all branches of Islam are often viewed as channels for divine blessing (baraka). The colloquial term sidi, derived from sayyid, is used as an honorific before Muslim saints, especially in North Africa. It does not always imply that the saint is a descendant of the Prophet.

See alsoSharif .

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Gilsenan, Michael. Recognising Islam: Religion and Society in theModern Middle East. London: Croom Helm, 1982.

Robert Gleave