Naqib al-ashraf (plural: nuqaba or niqabat) was a governmental post in various Muslim empires denoting the head or supervisor of the descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.[1] The descendants of Muhammad were known as ashraf and throughout Islamic history, the ashraf organized themselves into large groups, akin to corporations, throughout the various Muslim territories.[1] This was done to ensure their special place in Muslim society and thus maintain their socio-political privileges.[1]