Seyyed

Seyyed is an Arabic honorific meaning "lord" or "master" and is used to denote a person believed to be a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatimah and son-in-law Ali. The title is commonly associated with Sayyids, and the feminine form is Sayyida or Sayyidah. Spelling and transliteration vary widely, with common variants including Sayyed, Said, Seyed, Sayed, Syed, and several others.

In usage, Seyyed can function as a title before a given name (for example, Sayyid Muhammad) or as part of a family name. It is found across diverse Muslim communities, including Iran, Iraq, the Levant, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, and Gulf countries, as well as among diaspora populations. The form of the title reflects linguistic and regional differences among Arabic, Persian, and South Asian contexts.

The concept of Sayyid rests on genealogical traditions claiming descent from the Prophet through Hasan and Husayn. In some communities, bearing the title carries social or religious significance and may be formally recognized within families or local networks; in others, it operates more as a customary honorific or surname. Verification of lineage, when pursued, varies by region and available records. Overall, Seyyed functions as a marker of lineage and status in many Muslim societies while also appearing as a common personal name component.