ASHRAFS

About: 

• Although Islam does not recognize any castes, Muslim communities in South Asia apply a system of social stratification. 
  
  
• It developed as a result of ethnic segregation between the foreign conquerors (Ashraf) and the local converts (Ajlaf), as well as influence of the indigenous Hindu culture.
  
  
• Ghaus Ansari (1960) named the following four broad categories of Muslim social divisions in India:
  • ASHRAF, who claim foreign-origin descent from Balochs, Afghans, Arabs etc. e.g. Sayyid, Mughal, Baloch, Pathan, and Sheikh
    
    
  • Converts from upper castes e.g. Muslim Rajputs
    
    
  • Converts from other "clean" castes e.g. Darzi, Dhobi etc.
    
    
  • Converts from untouchable castes which are considered clean by Muslims and part of Ummah e.g. Bhangi
    
    
  
  
  
• The non-Ashrafs are categorized as ‘AJLAF’.
  
  
• The untouchable Hindu converts are also categorized as ‘ARZAL’. They are relegated to menial professions such as scavenging and carrying night soil.