What caste/Zaat are you?

[hussain.r97]

Syed...every male in my family has that as their first name.

Any idea about which type of Syed? (i.e. Abidi, Naqvi, Rizvi, etc)

 

[Pakistanian]

I don't believe this stuff, but for those curious: My dad's from the Butt clan (Kashmiri) and my mom's Syed. Neither of their sides of the family identify with these "castes".

 

[SpiritOf1903]

How important is this for people ?. Still seems very potent today.

 

[Jadz]

There are people in the UK with surnames like 'Khan' or 'Shah' or 'Choudhury', but they are not their real or actual family names. Some changed their surnames because they 'sounded better' - according to a friend of mine, whose relative advised her parents to adopt the name 'Khan' as it meant they were from a 'good' family.

My surname is Bint Adam - that is also my 'caste'! Seriously though, I wish Indians and Pakistanis would move on and away from their obsession with caste, because they just make people from the sub-Continent seem pre-historic and backward.

Incidentally, Arabs were also 'idol-worshippers' - or 'Hindus' - before the advent of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and revelation of the Qur'an, as the latter makes quite clear. So, historically speaking, most human beings are descended from idol-worshippers, and there is absolutely no shame in acknowledging this fact.

 

[mmkextreme_1]

Family is Kakazai. Go to Pakistan and everyone does ask about this stuff, sadly it still very prevalent there. A lot of stuff plays an important role according to the "zaat" you are.

Don't believe in caste/zaats. On the other hand, it is a part of history which can't be denied.

 

[Jadz]

Family is Kakazai. Go to Pakistan and everyone does ask about this stuff, sadly it still very prevalent there. A lot of stuff plays an important role according to the "zaat" you are.

Don't believe in caste/zaats. On the other hand, it is a part of history which can't be denied.

Pakistanis and Indians often say that they do not believe in the caste system, but adhere to it in their own lives and do very little, if anything, to change it.

I recall being told by a Pakistani woman that her family had never married outside of their 'caste', and she was actually bragging about it! Another time, a Pakistani girl asked me: 'what caste are you?' - suffice to say, I was totally shocked and just walked away in stunned silence, because it was the first time I had encountered this attitude, about caste being all-important.

This actually makes me feel quite despairing, though I know the thread is meant to be lighthearted, but when we consider the many evils confronting Muslim societies and communities, we have to bear in mind that caste-based violence is one amongst them. Sorry if all that sounds a bit depressing...

 

[mmkextreme_1]

Pakistanis and Indians often say that they do not believe in the caste system, but adhere to it in their own lives and do very little, if anything, to change it.

I recall being told by a Pakistani woman that her family had never married outside of their 'caste', and she was actually bragging about it! Another time, a Pakistani girl asked me: 'what caste are you?' - suffice to say, I was totally shocked and just walked away in stunned silence, because it was the first time I had encountered this attitude, about caste being all-important.

This actually makes me feel quite despairing, though I know the thread is meant to be lighthearted, but when we consider the many evils confronting Muslim societies and communities, we have to bear in mind that caste-based violence is one amongst them. Sorry if all that sounds a bit depressing...

Trust me, I know exactly what you mean. I have heard this across multiple families when I visit Pakistan, "oh we only marry within our zaat." I made it a personal vendetta and made sure that didn't happen lol. This stuff was prevelant across the western world as well but over time has been washed out. I think as more education will spread and more understanding of how everyone is equal spreads this will eventually wash out.

 

[Jadz]

Trust me, I know exactly what you mean. I have heard this across multiple families when I visit Pakistan, "oh we only marry within our zaat." I made it a personal vendetta and made sure that didn't happen lol. This stuff was prevelant across the western world as well but over time has been washed out. I think as more education will spread and more understanding of how everyone is equal spreads this will eventually wash out.

Many respects for not succumbing to family pressure in regards to the caste issue when getting married! My Parents explained that we could marry any Muslim, from anywhere on the planet, irrespective of nationality or sect. It was only when I grew up that realisation dawned: Muslims will not marry Muslims because of nationality, sect and complexion. I remain deeply disillusioned with my own compatriots and coreligionists, but have the same hopes you do, that with education and time, things will improve. Though, if we were to follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Muslims would marry without even taking age, family, clan and the rest into account.

 

[mmkextreme_1]

Many respects for not succumbing to family pressure in regards to the caste issue when getting married! My Parents explained that we could marry any Muslim, from anywhere on the planet, irrespective of nationality or sect. It was only when I grew up that realisation dawned: Muslims will not marry Muslims because of nationality, sect and complexion. I remain deeply disillusioned with my own compatriots and coreligionists, but have the same hopes you do, that with education and time, things will improve. Though, if we were to follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Muslims would marry without even taking age, family, clan and the rest into account.

This. Today's society has gone far far away from this basic principle in the Muslim world. To make things worse we had the Saudis that came out and said, Pakistani men, can't marry "their" women. What kind of crap is that?

We can only hope that we get rid of such mentality over time.

 

[Black Zero]

From father's side, I am supposed to be ChughtaI. ..
(Personally, I do not believe in castes, I do not believe even in races as these terms/classification may have some social value, but valueless scientifically.)