Book discussion on Seeking Allah’s Hierarchy: Caste, Labor and Islam in India. It was chaired by Shivani Kapoor. The discussants included Sumbul Farah and Shireen Azam.

The book probes the existence of hierarchical practices prevalent among Muslims in South Asia, ethnographically focusing on Muslim barbers and their work relations in Kerala. It complicates the question of ‘caste’ found in the Indian subcontinent by showcasing the peculiarity of hierarchical practices among Muslims.

P.C. Saidalavi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Shiv Nadar University, Delhi-NCR.

Sumbul Farah is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. 

Shireen Azam is Postdoctoral Fellow at National Law School of India University, Bengaluru. 

Shivani Kapoor is an Associate Professor at Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi.

Monday, 9 February 2026, 4 pm, CSDS Seminar Room, 29 Rajpur Road, Delhi 110054.