Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c5.s4.t3.17

c5.s4.t3.17

*The Sayyids.*—A peculiar sanctity always attaches to a Sayyid in Muslim society, probably because of his alleged descent from the Prophet. The Muslims as a rule pay exaggerated honours to the memory of their prophet, which comes to be shared in some degree by every one who professes to be descended from Muhammad,² through his daughter Fatima. The rise of the Abbasids and the spread of Shi‘ite movements in Islam has greatly added to the moral position of the Sayyids. The sentiment of respect for Sayyids was very strong right from the beginning of the Sultanate, though their numbers were not very large. A large number of Sayyids came to seek shelter in Hindustan from the ravages of the Mongols in their own land and were welcomed warmly by Sultan Balban.³ Like the brothers of Joseph, other Sayyids were not slow in taking advantage of these opportunities in the Muslim kingdom of Delhi. It was not surprising to find in a land which had been used to the privileges of the Brahman hierarchy, an exaggerated and indiscriminate respect for these privileged visitors. Every Sayyid, from the fact of his being descended from the family of the Prophet, was supposed to be brave, truthful, pious, and possessed of every other noble quality. It was considered the height of impropriety, if not an actual sin, to employ a Sayyid in a low position.⁴ The Sayyids were similarly credited with possessing the knowledge of occult phenomena and of supernatural mysteries. Even proud monarchs, therefore, did not hesitate to humble themselves before them.¹ After the invasion of Timur in 1398 A.D., the Sayyids even succeeded for a while in establishing a ruling dynasty on the throne of Delhi. Unfortunately, they were not well qualified for this task and their last king quietly renounced his throne, ignominiously resigning himself to the *Aqta* of Buda'un. The loss of political power, however, did not damage the social position of the Sayyids as a class, and the Afghan successors scrupulously, and even superstitiously, respected the concessions and privileges of the Sayyids.²