Asharaaf (Ashraf, Asharaf)

Name and family tree

The name comes from the Arabic ashraf, the plural of sharif. The EUAA says the word means "honour" (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.4.4). In Somali the name is written Asharaaf, and a single member is a shariif.

ACCORD writes that the Asharaf claim descent "from the daughter of the prophet Muhammad, Fatima" (ACCORD, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 20). Wikipedia names Fatima's sons, Hasan and Husayn, as the two founding ancestors (Wikipedia, Asharaf, backup).

See Rahanweyn, minority communities and the Somali clan tree.

Main branches

Abbink gives these lineages (Abbink 2009, p. 37):

• Hassan: Mohamed Sharif, Sharif Ali, Sharif Ahmed and Ashraf Sarman.
• Hussein: Reer Sharif Magbul, Sharif Ahmed and Sharif Balaaw.

Wikipedia repeats this list and adds that there are "unnamed others" in each line (Wikipedia, Asharaf, backup). The EUAA says both lines are "divided into various sub-lineages" but does not name them (EUAA 2025, section 1.4.3).

Where they live

No census counts Somalis by clan. ACCORD notes that Somalis often claim more members than their groups have, "in order to demonstrate strength" (ACCORD 2009, p. 11).

The EUAA says the Asharaf/Hassan/Sarman live mainly in the hinterland of southern Somalia, "up to the Bakool region" (EUAA 2025, section 1.4.3). See Bakool, Bay and Gedo.

History on record

The EUAA writes that Asharaf and Sheekhaal "were respected by other clans as 'religious people' or even 'teachers of religion'". Until the civil war they had protection arrangements with the larger clans they lived among. In the 1990s, it says, "they lost clan protection and were exploited and subjugated by clan militias" (EUAA 2025, section 1.4.4).

ACCORD writes that Benadiri Asharaf "have been targeted together with Benadiri people during the early civil war" (ACCORD 2009, p. 20).

• 2004. When the Transitional Federal Government was formed, the Asharaf placed themselves in the 0.5 minority group. ACCORD says they "encountered difficulties in receiving full representation within the Rahanweyn group" (ACCORD 2009, p. 19). See the Federal Parliament.
• 2008 to 2009. ACCORD names Sharif Hassan, a minister and ally of President Sheikh Sharif, as an Asharaf. It calls him "the driving force in the 2008 Djibouti agreement" (same source, p. 20).
• Recent years. The EUAA says Asharaf and Sheekhaal "gained some political and economic influence in southern Somalia again". Some run large businesses in Mogadishu (EUAA 2025, section 1.4.4).

Wikipedia lists two mayors of Mogadishu as Asharaf: Shariif Imaankeey (1963 to 1965) and Shariif Caydaruus (1966 to 1970). It also names the Brava poet and scholar Dada Masiti (Wikipedia, Asharaf, backup).

Elders and customary law

Senior Somali clan leaders carry titles such as suldaan, ugaas or issim. Their role is "mainly judicial and representative" (UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014).

ACCORD writes that the Asharaf "maintain a special religious status" among the people they live with. This holds "as far as they are seen as being related to the Prophet" (ACCORD 2009, p. 20).

On marriage, the EUAA says intermarriage between majority clans and groups such as the Asharaf, Sheekhaal and most Benadiri "is accepted". Typically the woman comes from the minority group and the man from the majority (EUAA 2025, section 1.4.5). See xeer, Somali customary law.

In recent conflict records

• Al-Shabaab. ACCORD wrote in 2009 that the Digil-Mirifle Asharaf "may be targeted by the al-Shabaab Islamist group". It gives two reasons: the group does not recognise their religious status, and it opposed Sharif Hassan (ACCORD 2009, p. 20).
• Hiiraan. The EASO lists a land dispute between the Hawadle (Hawiye) and the "Reer Aw Hassan (Ashraf)". It says the conflict killed 16 people in June 2020 (EASO 2021). See Reer Aw Xasan.
• Discrimination. The EUAA says members "occasionally face discrimination and human rights abuses due to their non-major-clan origins" (EUAA 2025, section 1.4.4).

The UK tribunal case NM and Others (Lone women – Ashraf) of 2005 concerned Asharaf women from the south (UK Home Office, CPIN 2019, 2.4.16). See clan conflicts, district by district.

Where sources differ

• Which family. Abbink and the EUAA count the Asharaf among the Benadiri. The EASO lists the Bakool Asharaf among the Rahanweyn groups. ACCORD treats the Digil-Mirifle and Benadiri Asharaf as separate.
• Minority or not. ACCORD says they are "frequently categorised as a minority", partly because of their own choice in 2004. It adds they are "not targeted as a minority as such, but may suffer the same problems as their 'host' clans".
• Skin colour labels. The EUAA says most are called gibil cad (light-skinned), but the Asharaf/Hassan/Sarman are called gibil madow (dark-skinned).
• The descent claim. Wikipedia, citing the scholar I. M. Lewis, calls this genealogy historically untenable. It says the same of similar claims by other Somali clans (Wikipedia, Asharaf, backup).

Read more

• Minority communities
• Rahanweyn
• Reer Aw Xasan
• The Somali clan tree: every clan and sub-clan
• Quran schools and religious learning
• Sheekhaal