
List of Ashraf tribes in Libya

Libyan society is composed of several Ashraf tribes. Ashraf () refers to someone claiming descent from Muhammad by way of his daughter Fatimah. The word is the plural of "sharīf" "noble", from "sharafa" "to be highborn". Ashraf, if pronounced with long "ā" in the second syllable ( /ašrāf/) is the plural of Sharif, but with short "a" ( /ašraf/) is the intensive of "sharīf" meaning "very noble", "nobler", "noblest".