why not any Sunni's are syed ?

[muslima]

sisters
sorry to bothering you again i want to know.
Imam Hussain and Imam Hussain (r.a) (nephews of prophet) they all died with their childern so no syeds.
 
Who are syed ? Can all Shia's be syed ?
How can they prove this they are from Aal-e-Muhammad (pbuh) ?
 
 why not any Sunni's are syed ?  what about Arabs ?

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Walaikum Salaam, dear sister Muslima.  You are not bothering us at all, my sister  We are very happy to receive your questions and it's a pleasure answering them.

This custom of using "Syed" is another bid'ah and it's concept is thoroughly un-Quranic.

The literal meaning of the Arabic world "syed" ( سيد‎) means "leader" or it can simply be interpreted as "mister."  However, with the passage of time, this term has been twisted and used traditionally to denote the descendants of the Prophet's (pbuh) family through his grandsons, Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein (may Allah be pleased with them).   But it's no more than  an honorific title.  There is no evidence that those men and women who use the title of "syed" or "syeda" are really the descendants of the Prophet's family.  In fact, quite definitely, majority of "syeds" and "syedas" have nothing to do with the Prophet's family.

But the point here is that whether or not someone is linked to the Prophet's family is not important.  The Quran does not give any importance to family connections.  The Quran makes it very clear that piety and righteousness comes from an individual's heart, mind and intentions .. not through family connections.  Members of the Prophet's family had to work just as hard to acquire the acceptance of Allah as anyone else.  Moreover, if you reflect on the contents of the Quran, you will recall that in the families of several Prophets there was someone or the other who earned the wrath of Allah for their disbelief and arrogance.  For example, Prophet Noah was a very pious man chosen by Allah.  But his son was a disbeliever.  Prophet Lot was a righteous man but his wife was disobedient.  Prophet Abraham was a very humble and pious man loved by Allah, but Abraham's father, Azar, was a disbeliever.  Prophet Muhammad, the Final Messenger, was a chosen person of Allah and a great man, but his uncle, Abu Lahab, was a disbeliever who has been condemned to Hellfire by name in the Noble Quran.  All these evidences are proof of the fact that family lineage, family status, race, color, language etc. are no reasons for a person to feel proud of themselves.  The only thing that makes one superior to others is a pious and good conduct based on the rules of the Noble Quran.   It's this aspect that makes the ideology of the Noble Quran thoroughly egalitarian, fair and just.  Alhumdulilah.

It's not necessarily the Shiias who use the title of "Syed."  Many Sunnis use it too .. though I haven't heard Arab Sunnis using the "syed" title.  That's probably because of the Salafi influence nurtured by majority of Arab Sunnis.  However, Sunnis belonging to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India do use the "syed" title quite commonly.  When these Sunnis call themselves "Syed" they take their lineage or blood line directly from the Prophet (pbuh).

The culture of using the title of "syed" is basically another one of those traditions aimed at creating class distinctions that were rife during the pre-Islamic era and also exist now in many non-Muslim and so-called Muslim communities.  I've also heard some of those Muslims who do not use the "syed" title complaining that they are looked down upon by those who call themselves "syeds."  If true, this is a very bad attitude which completely violates the principles of the Noble Quran.  The Quran upholds the concept of equality, NOT groups, sects or castes segregated by titles.  

Another reason for the 'Syed' tradition is to show that even though the Prophet (pbuh) did not have any sons, yet his family name (the term "syed" referring to leadership) is passed on through generations from his son-in-law and grandsons - referring to Imam Ali, Imam Hassan and Imam Hussein (may Allah be pleased with them).  However, this concept is also very incorrect.  It's not the later generations of the Prophet's family that are responsible for keeping the Prophet's name illuminated, rather the Prophet's name is alive, loved & respected by the Will of Allah.  Allah has taken the responsibility to preserve the Noble Quran till the Day of Judgment and the Prophet (pbuh) being the vehicle for the Quran, will also always be remembered as the Final Messenger of Allah till the Day of Judgment.

However, as I already referred, this is a very racist and baseless attitude of both Sunnis and Shiias. There are 1.3 billion Muslims in the world.  Are they all expected to have the blood-line of the Prophet to be considered righteous?  Certainly NOT in the Sight of Allah.  What Allah expects from a believer is not their biological connections with the Prophet's family nor any family, but Allah only expects righteousness of conduct with a strong iman.   Family lineage means nothing.

You might also like to read the following post titled "Can non-Syeds marry women of Syed families?"  It was a question put by someone that appeared in an Arab news website.

[muslima]

Many thaks sister heba well explained hmm mostly the people who like to say they are syed are probably not. I guess if we know and understand the chain then it makes the task more easier. i got u sister they are crazy they believe they are descendants of the Prophet (pbuh)

[Zainab_M]

That's very true.  Many folks who claim to be descendants of the Prophet (saaw) are surely not.   I have come across so many people, both online and offline, who claim their family tree to have descended from the Prophet (saaw) or from Qureyh or Banu Hashim.  Just about every 'tom, jane and harry' claims it .. sunnis and shiias alike.

Secondly, as sister Heba emphasized very correctly, family lineage - be it from the Prophet's family or any family - does not unconditionally mean being a righteous person.  Righteousness comes from a person's heart who tries to reach out to Allah and Allah grants them His guidance by considering them to be worthy of it.  Indeed, those of the Prophet's family in Medinah during the 7th century were very pious people because of the Prophet's direct influence in his household.  But now, more than 14 centuries have passed.   Except Allah, no one knows who is linked to the Prophet's family tree today.  Even if someone is able to prove they are linked to the Prophet's family in the 21st century, that by itself is not enough to exonerate them.  To gain the favor of Allah, they have to work hard to strengthen their iman and elevate their conduct just like anyone of us.  The Noble Quran does not recognize family connections alone.

We love and respect Imam Hussein not simply because he was the Prophet's grandson, but because he truly followed the Quranic instructions as delivered to his family by the Prophet (saaw).  Imam Hussein upheld the Quran and therefore he stood up bravely for justice in the battlefield of Karbala against all odds with his faith firmly in Allah alone.  Imam Hussein's exemplary conduct that resembled that of his grandfather, made him worthy of love & respect from us. Imam Hussein valued his grandfather's teachings and utilized them to heighten his conscience.  That's the reason we hold him in high esteem.  But if he had neglected the Quranic teachings delivered by his grandfather, then it would be a very different story. 
 
In modern times, members of the "royal" family of Jordan claim that they are "Hashmites."  First off, that's debatable.  Secondly, even if it's true, just look at their vile conduct.  They're corrupt, they're treacherous, they serve imperialist interest, they do not value the concept of a pan-Islamic state, they consume alcohol, their women wear revealing western clothes, the late King Hussein was a notorious womanizer who was in CIA's payroll etc. etc.   But why go that far.  Allah, in His own Words, has firmly condemned Abu Lahab and his wife to Hellfire in Surah Al-Lahab .. and Abu Lahab was the Prophet's uncle. 

[muslima]

sisters now i undrstand very well the sickness behind piking titles.
Regarding Imam Hussain and Imam Hussain(r a) we all deeply respectful for their sacrifice of noble cause.
shameless title holder the all are hippocrates.