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There is a recent contentious and politically politicized debate with regard to whether the correct descriptors are either historic socio-economic class based or religious Hindu Caste based. Muslim communities in South Asia "allegedly" apply a system of religious stratification. It developed as a result of ethnic segregation between the foreign conquerors/ Upper caste Hindus who converted to Islam and the local converts as well as the continuation of the Indian caste system among local converts. Non-Ashrafs are converts from Hinduism, usually from the lower castes. The neologism Pasmandas include Ajlaf and Arzal Muslims, and Ajlafs' statuses are defined by them being descendants of converts to Islam and are also defined by their pesha.
The Biradari System is how social stratification manifests itself in Pakistan, and to an extent also India. Ashrafism, Syedism, Zatism, Sharifism, Biradarism, and the Quom System are aspects of the caste system among Muslims in South Asia. Concepts of "paak" and "naapak" are found in South Asian Muslims. The South Asian Muslim caste system also includes hierarchical classifications of khandan and nasab.