The Sharif of Mecca () was the title of the leader of the Sharifate of Mecca, traditional steward of the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina. 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. The title is sometimes spelled Sheriff or Sherif, with the latter variant used, for example, by T. E. Lawrence in Seven Pillars of Wisdom.

The office of the Sharif of Mecca dates back to the late Abbasid era. Until 1200, the Sharifate was held by a member of the Hashim clan, not to be confused with the larger clan of Banu Hashim from which all Sharifs claim descent. 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. In 1517, the Sharif acknowledged the supremacy of the Ottoman Caliph, but maintained a great degree of local autonomy. During the Ottoman era, the Sharifate expanded its authority northwards to include Medina, hitherto a sharifate of its own, and southwards to the frontiers of 'Asir, and regularly raided Nejd.

The Sharifate came to an end shortly after the reign of Hussein bin Ali, who ruled from 1908, who rebelled against the Ottoman rule during the Arab Revolt of 1916. After the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in 1918 and its subsequent dissolution in 1922, 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. In 1924, however, in the face of increasing attacks by Ibn Saud, Hussein abdicated his political titles to his eldest son, Ali bin Hussein, who was to become the last Grand Sharif. At the end of 1925, Ibn Saud conquered the Hejaz and expelled the Hashemites. The House of Saud has ruled Mecca and Medina and overseen the Hajj (annual pilgrimage to Mecca) since that time.

List of Sharifs of Mecca (967–1925) During the Fatimid dynasty (967–1101) +EmirReignNotesJa'farid dynastyJa'far ibn Muhammad al-Hasani967–980Isa ibn Ja'far980–994Abu'l-Futuh al-Hasan ibn Ja'far994–1012Briefly anti-Caliph in 1012Abu Tayeb Daoud bin Abdul Rahman bin Abi Al-Fatik1012–1039Shukr ibn Abi'l-Futuh1039–1061 Died childless, end of the Ja'farid dynastyHawashimAbu Hashim Muhammad ibn Ja'far1063–1094Changed allegiances from the Fatimid to the Abbasid Caliphate in 1071 and back in 1075.Ibn Abu'l-Hashim al-Thalab1094–1101

During the Ayyubid Empire (1201–1254) +EmirReign Bani QatadaNotesQatada ibn Idris al-Hasani al-Alawi1201–1220Killed at age 90 by his son; founder of the Banu Qatada, the dynasty which ruled Mecca until 1925.Hasan ibn Qatada al-Hasani al-Alawi1220–1241Al-Zahir Baibers ruler of Egypt sends a prince to collect Zakat from the area including the surrounding bedouinsAl-Hassan abul-Saad1241–1254

1250–1301 +EmirReign AHReign CENotesReferencesAbu Sa'd Hasan ibn Ali ibn Qatadah647–6511250–1253Reigned until his death. Killed by Jammaz ibn Hasan.al-Sinjārī, Manā’iḥ al-karam, 2/311–314Abu Numayy Muhammad ibn Abi Sa'd?–651?–1253Co-reigned with his father. Named co-ruler after he defended Mecca from capture by Rajih ibn Qatadah and his Banu Husayn allies.al-Sinjārī, Manā’iḥ al-karam, 2/312–314; al-‘Izz Ibn Fahd, Ghāyat al-marām, 2/39–40Jammaz ibn Hasan ibn Qatadah651 – Hij 6511253 – Feb 1254Captured Mecca with an army provided by al-Nasir Yusuf, the Ayyubid ruler of Syria, to whom he had promised the khutbah. However, he reneged and continued the khutbah in the name of al-Muzaffar Yusuf, the Rasulid sultan of Yemen. Deposed by Rajih ibn Qatadah.al-Sinjārī, Manā’iḥ al-karam, 2/314–315Rajih ibn QatadahHij 651 – Rb1 652Feb 1254 – Apr/May 1254Deposed by his son Ghanim.al-Sinjārī, Manā’iḥ al-karam, 2/315–316Ghanim ibn RajihRb1 652 – Shw 652Apr/May 1254 – Nov/Dec 1254Deposed by Abu Numayy and Idris.al-Sinjārī, Manā’iḥ al-karam, 2/315–316Abu Numayy Muhammad ibn Abi Sa'dShw 652 – Qid 652Nov/Dec 1254 – Jan 1255Co-rulers. Khutbah in the name of al-Ashraf Musa, the titular Ayyubid sultan of Egypt, and his atabeg al-Mu'izz Aybak. Deposed by the Yemeni emir Ibn Birtas.al-Sinjārī, Manā’iḥ al-karam, 2/316; al-‘Izz Ibn Fahd, Ghāyat al-marām, 1/642, 2/10; al-Najm Ibn Fahd, Itḥāf al-wará, 3/76Idris ibn QatadahRasulid occupational-Sinjārī, Manā’iḥ al-karam, 2/316–317; al-‘Izz Ibn Fahd, Ghāyat al-marām, 1/642, 2/10–12, 44–46; al-Najm Ibn Fahd, Itḥāf al-wará, 3/76–77Husayn ibn Ali ibn BirtasMubariz al-DinQid 652 – Muh 653Jan 1255 – Mar 1255Yemeni emir. Reigned on behalf of the Rasulid sultan al-Muzaffar Yusuf.Idris ibn QatadahMuh 653 – 654Mar 1255 – 1256Co-reigned with his nephew. Deposed in absentia by Abu Numayy when he left Mecca to visit his brother Rajih ibn Qatadah.al-Sinjārī, Manā’iḥ al-karam, 2/317–318; al-‘Izz Ibn Fahd, Ghāyat al-marām, 1/640–642, 2/11–12Abu Numayy Muhammad ibn Abi Sa'dMuh 653 – 656Mar 1255 –1258Co-reigned with his uncle for most of his reign.Idris ibn Qatadah654–6561256–1258Restored as co-ruler.Sons of Hasan ibn Qatadah6561258Took over Mecca while Abu Numayy was absent. Imprisoned Idris and held the city for six days, then withdrew when Abu Numayy returned.al-Sinjārī, Manā’iḥ al-karam, 2/318; al-Najm Ibn Fahd, Itḥāf al-wará, 3/80Idris ibn Qatadah656–6671258 – 1268/1269Co-reigned with his nephew. Deposed for his pro-Rasulid inclinations when Abu Numayy sought the favour of the Egyptian Mamluks.al-Sinjārī, Manā’iḥ al-karam, 2/319–321; al-‘Izz Ibn Fahd, Ghāyat al-marām, 1/641–642, 2/12–14; al-Najm Ibn Fahd, Itḥāf al-wará, 3/93–99Abu Numayy Muhammad ibn Abi Sa'd656 – Rb1 6691258 – Oct/Nov 1270Co-reigned with his uncle for most of his reign. In 667 AH he instituted the khutbah in the name of the Mamluk sultan al-Zahir Baybars. Deposed by Idris.Idris ibn Qatadah667 – Rb2/Jm1 6691268/1269 – Nov/Dec 1270Restored as co-ruler and pledged obedience to the Mamluk sultan. Co-reigned with his nephew until Rabi I 669 AH, then reigned independently for 40 days. Beheaded by Abu Numayy on the battlefield at Khulays.Abu Numayy Muhammad ibn Abi Sa'dRb2/Jm1 669 – Saf 670Nov/Dec 1270 – Sep/Oct 1271Deposed by Jammaz ibn Shihah and Ghanim ibn Idris.al-Sinjārī, Manā’iḥ al-karam, 2/321–322; al-‘Izz Ibn Fahd, Ghāyat al-marām, 2/14–16; al-Najm Ibn Fahd, Itḥāf al-wará, 3/101Husaynid occupationJammaz ibn ShihahSaf 670 – Rb2 670Oct 1271 – Dec 1271Co-rulers. Held Mecca for 40 days. Deposed by Abu Numayy.Ghanim ibn Idris ibn Hasan ibn QatadahAbu Numayy Muhammad ibn Abi Sa'dRb2 670 – 687Dec 1271 – 1288/1289Deposed by Jammaz ibn Shihah.al-Sinjārī, Manā’iḥ al-karam, 2/323–324; al-‘Izz Ibn Fahd, Ghāyat al-marām, 2/17–18; al-Najm Ibn Fahd, Itḥāf al-wará, 3/118–119Husaynid occupationJammaz ibn Shihah6871288/1289Emir of Medina. Captured Mecca with an army provided by the Mamluk sultan al-Mansur Qalawun, but afterwards struck coins and had the khutbah pronounced in his own name. Returned to Medina after he was poisoned.Abu Numayy Muhammad ibn Abi Sa'd687 – Saf 7011288/1289 – Oct 1301Reigned until his death.al-Sinjārī, Manā’iḥ al-karam, 2/324–325; al-‘Izz Ibn Fahd, Ghāyat al-marām, 2/38; al-Najm Ibn Fahd, Itḥāf al-wará, 3/132–134Humaydah ibn Abi NumayySaf 701 – Hij 701Oct 1301 – Aug 1302Rumaythah ibn Abi NumayyAbu al-Ghayth ibn Abi NumayyHij 701 – Hij 704Aug 1302 – Jul 1305Utayfah ibn Abi NumayyHumaydah ibn Abi NumayyHij 704 – c. Hij 713Jul 1305 – c. Mar 1314Rumaythah ibn Abi NumayyAbu al-Ghayth ibn Abi Numayyc. Hij 713 – c. Saf 714c. Mar 1314 – c. Jun 1314Humaydah ibn Abi Numayyc. Saf 714 – Ram 715c. Mar 1314 – Dec 1315Rumaythah ibn Abi NumayyRam 715 – c. Muh 718Dec 1315 – c. Mar 1318Humaydah ibn Abi Numayyc. Muh 718 – c. Rb2 718c. Mar 1318 – c. Jun 1318Rumaythah ibn Abi Numayyc. Rb2 718 – Hij 718c. Jun 1318 – Feb 1319Utayfah ibn Abi NumayyMuh 719 – c. Rb1 731Mar 1319 – c. Jan 1331Rumaythah ibn Abi NumayyQid 720 – c. Rb1 731Dec 1320 – c. Jan 1331Egyptian occupationRumaythah ibn Abi NumayyJm1 731 – 744Feb 1331 – 1343/1344Utayfah ibn Abi Numayy734 – Hij 7341333/1334 – Aug 1334Hij 735 – c. Shw 737Jul 1335 – c. May 1337Thaqabah ibn Rumaythah744 – Qid 7441343/1344 – Mar/Apr 1344Ajlan ibn RumaythahRumaythah ibn Abi NumayyQid 744 – Jm2 746Mar/Apr 1344 – Oct 1345

During the Mamluk Empire (1254–1517)

+EmirReignNotesMuhammed abul-Nubaj1254–1301First Mamluk Sharif after the fall of Ayyubid EmpireRumaitha Abul-Rada1301–1346Ajlan Abul-Sarjah1346–1375Ali bin Ajlan1375–1394Hasan ibn Ajlan1394–1425Barakat ibn Hasan1425–1455Malik ul-Adil ibn Muhammad ibn Barakat1455–1473Barakat II bin Muhammed1473–1525Built the first Walls of Jeddah by order of Al-Ashraf Qansuh al-Ghawri

During the Ottoman Empire (1517–1917)