Attributing one’s lineage to a prophet or a revered figure

Question

Question: Earlier too we sent you a request for a fatwa (istifta), and we received the answer, but our thirst has not been quenched. Now we wish to know to which lineage (nasab) or caste among the Muslims we belong. We, the Indian craftsmen, regard Hazrat Dawud ﵇ as our teacher — can this lineage of ours not be correct? We are pure Indians. Our biradari (a kinship or caste community) ought to have one name, as other castes do.

Answer

Hazrat Dawud ﵇ was a prophet; his umma is “Dawudi”, just as the umma of Hazrat ‘Isa ﵇ is called “‘Isa’i” (Christian) and the umma of Hazrat Isra’il ﵇ is “Isra’ili”. If people, attributing themselves to him, call themselves “Dawudi”, the general mind will go towards your being of his umma.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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