Muslims and the Caste System

Although not as rigid as the Indian caste system, the Muslims practice the same widely in India at least. Not only muslims, but also christians.

Racism. You can change your caste by your deeds, but not the race.

Originally posted by Dear Sir Judging from a number of things I've read on this forum,I've come to the conclusion that many Muslims from the sub-continent are racists.I guess that deserves another thread.   Omar which of the two evils is worse,in your opinion.Caste system or racism?

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I don't know enough about the caste system to make a judgement, but Vivek's answer looks good to me.

Originally posted by Maqsad Well has not Islam itself created a new type of caste system?

Theoritically there shouldn't be, pratically is what I started the thread to discuss.

Like for instance syeds. You cannot become a syed but have to be born a syed. Obvioulsy they believe they are different than the rest of humanity and "blessed" favorably.

Sorry we don't think that. Our title Syed is just our lineage, it doesn't make us any better or worse than anyone else.

I have a question here...

Originally posted by malizai_   Isnt the source of distinction: "The best of you are those who are best in deeds". There is no syed caste.

You can say what you want but the fact is that non syeds cannot become syeds no matter how hard they try or how much they want to. Its similar to how a kshatriya cannot become a brahmin no matter how much he studies or how much he wants to, its just not accepted in orthodox vedic hinduism. Also no matter how much an ashkenazi desires to be shepardic he cannot become one. Same thing in Islam.

Now you can say there is no syed caste but do you know any syeds who have decided that they will disolve  the title as a gesture of equality? I don't. In fact they seem to like being part of this group and want to hold on to it.  I really haven't looked into this much but  I do believe that there  are quite a few syeds  who look down upon non syeds simply because of having a certain bloodline.  Lol which can be anywhere from 1/256th to 1/2 original Quraishi I suppose but the point is that its quite close in definition to what I and many others would consider a caste.

Of course if you don't like this definition you will argue against it thats understandable.


Edited by maqsad - 13-Sep-2006 at 02:00

Lets change the question, everyone is pointing out families and ethnic groups and saying they are castes.

What is the caste system? The details and the basics for people who indoctrinated from birth to not trust it.

Then how else would you define a caste, if the above listed communities are not castes. Ask any shaikh or syyed to marry a kunjra muslim & you will get the answer. Ask any Kunjra to eat with a bedia & you will get the answer.
Ask any pathan to marry a malbari & you get the answer. The theory of islam may be anything, but come to india to see the system. Infact indian muslims are fighting the government for recognition of their cast system as official, since till now the govt. under the influence of ashrafis, deobandis & barelvis has refused to officially accept that this caste system exists.

For example Shaikhs & sayyeds are ashrafis whereas the gujjars of both india & pakistan are ajlafis.

It's not actually injustice, but a form of groupism or say inclusivity or inbreeding in scientific terms.

Is everybody who is pious irrespective of his religion is considered equal human being to others or only Muslims are considered equals among themselves?