Family nobility

Question

Question: Among Muslims there is a notion of lower and higher families: for example, Shaykhs, Sayyids, Mughals and Pathans — these people call the weavers, cotton-carders and the like a low caste. What is the reality of this, in which book is it summarised, where can it be obtained, and what is the ruling on it according to the Glorious Qur’an and the noble hadith?

Answer

Family nobility and distinction are legally taken into account in some rulings and issues: for example, it is not right for a Sayyid to take zakat, while for others it is right; and in matters of nikah compatibility (kafa’a) is taken into account to a certain extent.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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