those who use the term "sayyid" for all descendants of ali ibn abi talib regard allawis or alavis as sayyids. however, allawis are not descendants of muhammad, as they are descended from the children of ali and the women he married after the death of fatima, such as umm ul-banin (fatima bint hizam). those who limit the term "sayyid" to descendants of muhammad through fatima, allawis/alavis are the same how "sayyids".