Sharif of Mecca

The term sharif is Arabic for "noble", "highborn", and is used to describe the descendants of Hashim ibn Abd Manaf.

The Sharif was charged with protecting the cities and their environs and ensuring the safety of pilgrims performing the Hajj.

Descendants of the Banu Hashim continued to hold the position until the 20th century on behalf of various Muslim powers including the Ayyubids and the Mamluks.

After the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in 1918 and its subsequent dissolution in 1923, Hussein formed the independent Kingdom of Hejaz and then declared himself Caliph.

The British granted control over the newly formed states of Iraq and Transjordan to his sons Faisal and Abdullah.

Family tree of the early sharifian dynasties of Mecca.
Sulaymanids
Hashimids
Ja'farids
Bani Qatada
Flag of Mamluk Hejaz
Muhammed bin Abd al-Muin, Sharif of Mecca 1827–1851, as pictured in the 1848 book by William Francis Lynch
Flag of Kingdom of Hejaz
Genealogical tree of the Hashemite family showing their descent from Muhammad . [ 16 ] [ 17 ] [ 18 ] [ 19 ]