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Indos
In the Arab world the term شريف was bestowed upon the descendants of Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) while the term سيد was used for the descendants of Al-Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra). Among the ranks within Hashemites then the rank of Sharif was higher since they were and are the senior descendants of Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) and Sayyida Fatima bint Muhammad (ra). After all the eldest son of Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) and Sayyida Fatima bint Muhammad (ra), Muhsin ibn Ali (ra) unfortunately died in his infancy of natural causes.
The branch of the Hashemites that I belong to and which the majority of the Makkawi/Hijazi Hashemites belong to is the branch of Qatada ibn Idris (ra) who belonged to the senior line of the Hashemites and was a paternal descendent of Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra). He gained the Sharifate in 1201 after a power struggle. The Sharifate as a sovereign body "first" came into existence in the late 10th century - to be precise in year 968. Earlier the Caliphs of the Umayyad and Abbasid Dynasty had full sovereignty and Hashemite branches although present in Hijaz had only religious and economic (not always) power but no military or governing powers (formal). Public roles were avoided due to the historical events (persecution). Also there was persecution in the earliest centuries after the death of Prophet Muhammad (saws). Anyway that position was held until 1925. Of course it is very difficult to know whether the Qatada branch is the oldest living Hashemite branch descending from Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) but it is certainly among the oldest. Aside from that there are similar and maybe even older branches found in mostly Southern Arabia - mainly Yemen. In particular Hadhramaut and the city of Tarim which my Yemeni side of my mother's family is from. Apparently the Qatada branch were Shia's during the reign of the Fatimids which gained control of Hijaz in the early 900's before becoming Sunni Muslims of the Shafi'i fiqh which is the case to this day. Yet that information is disputed as is the claim of Shia's that the Ahl al-Bayt were Shia's as we know it today which I do not agree with and other scholars of yesterday and of today. In the late 800's Muhammad ibn Musa (ra) who was the great-great-great-grandson of Al-Hasan al-Muthana (ra) one of the younger sons of Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) was reported living in the coastal Hijazi city of Yanbu. It was one of his grandsons, Jafar ibn Hussein (ra), who became the first Sharif of Makkah in 968 that held a public position as a Sharif. His line only lasted for a few decades as it died out and was replace by others. In the late 11th century the Hashemites were replaced as Sharif's by appointed Sharif's, often from the outside and not always Hashemites, under the full authority of the Fatimids and later Ayyubids. Let me remind you that the Fatimids where Shia Ismailis thus they preferred the offspring of Jafar al-Musawi (ra) to other Hashemites so that was mainly Sharif's from his lineage that got appointed in that time period. To make matters even more difficult then there was often power struggles as the Arab world was often a playground for the heretical Qarmatians. A heretical off-shot of the Ismaili Shia sect based mostly in the Eastern Province of modern-day KSA and they were known for their rebellion against the ruling Abbasid Caliphate and their ransacking of Makkah and the Kaaba (!) in 317 AH. Ironically they were vegetarians! That sect died out a few decades afterwards after their rebellions were put down by the Abbasid forces.
So this is the history. So in fact I am a Sharif and not a Sayyid although both are the same and the distinction, even in the Arab world of today, is barely kept. So now both the paternal descendants of Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) and Al-Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) are clustered into one and called Sadah (plural of Sayyid). Which traditionally is a wrong description as Ashraf were called Sharif and Sadah Sayyid. This is of course only a historical detail that not many people from outside the Arab world know about. But I like details as you might have noticed.
Regarding the description of our Beloved Prophet (saws) then the best description was given by the old but generous woman Umm Ma'bad (ra) who one day was visited by The Prophet (saws), Abu Bakr (ra), Abu Fuhayra (ra) and Abdullah ibn Urayqit (ra). Although that particular day she had nothing to offer other than one of her goats which was very weak. Then The Prophet (saws) asked for permission to milk it and milked this weak goat and filled a very big container (not a cup) to her great surprise and that of Umm Ma'bad's (ra) husband (he was not present during the encounter) when the meeting was over. Although Umm Mabad (ra) only met The Prophet (saws) once she described The Prophet (saws) as a man of evident splendor, fine in figure, handsome face, slim in form, head not too small, elegant, good-looking, eyes large and black, long eyelids, deep voice, very intelligent, brows high and arched, hair in plaits, long neck, thick beard, dignity when silent (humility), high intelligence when talked, decisive and not trivial, fine and splendid looking from a distance and the best of all from close by, medium in height, best proportioned, center and vocal point of the attention of the Sahaba (ra) who obeyed him loyally. When that description was given by Umm Mabad (ra) to her husband he exclaimed that this must be Prophet Muhammad (saws) persecuted by the Quraysh and told that he would give allegiance to The Prophet (saws) and Islam. Of course Umm Ma'bad (ra) embraced Islam after that encounter.
Umm Ma’bad, ‘Aatikah bint Khalid
Let me remind you that it is a great honor to have seen Prophet Muhammad (saws) in a dream as this is a honor bestowed upon few people. I am talking about reliable dreams and descriptions of Prophet Muhammad (saws) here.
I was touched and impressed by both of your stories and pleased about your trip @
waz and you overcoming obstacles in your life @
Indos which we all do. Some bigger than others depending on ones fortune or misfortune her in this earthly life.
Lately I have become very attached to Surah al-Kahf. I can't be the only one here with a special likeness for this particular surah? I love to recite it personally.
Sorry for this long essay again.
