The Meaning of Al-Siyadah
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Question: What is the meaning of al-siyadah? How is it realized? By what is it completed? And who is the sayyid (master) among the Ummah of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)? We seek your guidance. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: The term sayyid is used to mean the owner, and it is also used to mean the leader and chief of a people. As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the Ansar:Meaning: Sa'd ibn Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him).
The use of the term sayyid for a person is a matter of disagreement among the scholars.
Some prohibited it, and some permitted it. Those who prohibited it argued that when some people said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): You are our sayyid and the son of our sayyid,The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:, he (peace and blessings be upon him) denied that.
They said: This indicates that it is not permissible to apply the term sayyid to a created being, because it is a description belonging to the Creator (Glorified and Exalted is He).
Some permitted it; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the Ansar:, meaning Sa'd ibn Mu'adh (may Allah be pleased with him) when he approached while riding a mount, because he was wounded.They said: This indicates the permissibility of applying the term sayyid to some people.
And perhaps the correct view, if Allah wills, is that it is permissible to call some people "sayyid" if they are the leader or chief of a tribe or a group,It is said: such as the sayyid of the Banu So-and-So, or the sayyid of such-and-such a tribe, meaning that he is their leader and chief. This should not be a matter of flattery, exaggeration, or boasting, but rather a matter of description and distinction.It is said: So-and-so is the sayyid of the Banu So-and-So, and so-and-so is the sayyid of such-and-such a tribe, and the like. However, the person should not be addressed with this title directly, so it should not be said in his presence or to his face, because it might lead him to arrogance and self-admiration. Rather, it should be said in his absence, thereby reconciling the hadiths. And Allah the Exalted knows best.
As for what some of the misguided people have become accustomed to, namely applying the term sayyid to some of their misguided leaders, and believing in their blessing, and that they grant some of
the objectives sought from them in matters that only Allah can accomplish, this is not permissible. In reality, these people are not sayyids, but rather misguiders, and one must be cautious of them.
Answer: The term sayyid is used to mean the owner, and it is also used to mean the leader and chief of a people. As the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the Ansar:
Rise to your master.
قوموا إلى سيدكمThe use of the term sayyid for a person is a matter of disagreement among the scholars.
Some prohibited it, and some permitted it. Those who prohibited it argued that when some people said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): You are our sayyid and the son of our sayyid,The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Al-Sayyid is Allah.
السيد اللهThey said: This indicates that it is not permissible to apply the term sayyid to a created being, because it is a description belonging to the Creator (Glorified and Exalted is He).
Some permitted it; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the Ansar:
Rise to your master.
قوموا إلى سيدكمAnd perhaps the correct view, if Allah wills, is that it is permissible to call some people "sayyid" if they are the leader or chief of a tribe or a group,It is said: such as the sayyid of the Banu So-and-So, or the sayyid of such-and-such a tribe, meaning that he is their leader and chief. This should not be a matter of flattery, exaggeration, or boasting, but rather a matter of description and distinction.It is said: So-and-so is the sayyid of the Banu So-and-So, and so-and-so is the sayyid of such-and-such a tribe, and the like. However, the person should not be addressed with this title directly, so it should not be said in his presence or to his face, because it might lead him to arrogance and self-admiration. Rather, it should be said in his absence, thereby reconciling the hadiths. And Allah the Exalted knows best.
As for what some of the misguided people have become accustomed to, namely applying the term sayyid to some of their misguided leaders, and believing in their blessing, and that they grant some of
the objectives sought from them in matters that only Allah can accomplish, this is not permissible. In reality, these people are not sayyids, but rather misguiders, and one must be cautious of them.