Sherif

Sherif, or SHEREFF, designates a descendant of Mohammed through his daughter Fatima and Ali. The title is inherited both from the paternal and the maternal side; and thus the number of members of this aristocracy is very large among the Moslems. The men have the privilege of wearing green turbans, the women green veils, green being the prophet's colour. Many of these sherifs founded dynasties in Africa; the line which rules in Morocco (q.v.) boasts of that proud designation. The ruling prince of the district of Mecca and guardian of the Kaaba (q.v.) is called sherif, sometimes for the sake of distinction grand sherif.