Why Is Sayyid Lineage Considered Paternal if It Comes Through Fatima?

Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Question

Why is Sayyid descent considered paternal when Prophet Muhammad’s (Allah bless him and give him peace) descendants are through Fatima (Allah be pleased with her) (maternal)?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

Allah (Most High) has decreed that the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) would not leave behind any male children. One of the wisdoms for this is that no arguments of succession should be made that Islamic leadership is based on lineage back to the Prophet.

However, Allah (Most High) praises the descendants of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) in the Quran, and they are additionally praised in the Prophetic narrations (Hadith).

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,

“Fatima is part of me. Whatever causes her distress distresses me, and whatever pleases her pleases me. Indeed, all lineages are severed on the Day of Judgment except my lineage, my relations by law, and my relations by marriage.” [Ahmad]

Additionally, this is not something new; just like the descendants of Fatima (Allah be pleased with her), the lineage of the Prophet ‘Isa (Jesus) is also through his mother, not his father.

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies at Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen.

There, he completed the memorization of the Quran and his study of Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study, he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, Shaykh ‘Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others.

Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.