Any one of several units of social stratification among Muslims in India and Pakistan.
Their development can be traced to the caste system of Hinduism and the tendency of Muslim converts from Hinduism to maintain social differences. The highest status is reserved for Muslim Arab immigrants, called ashraf. This level is itself divided into subgroups. The highest subgroup claims descent from Muhammad through his daughter, Fatima . The non-ashraf Muslim castes consist of three levels: converts from high Hindu castes, artisan castes, and the untouchables .