Shafiq

Shafiq is the surname of an ancient and notable pure-blood wizarding family in Great Britain. The family is recognized as one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, a list of families considered to have a truly pure-blood lineage. Their long history is affirmed by a mention from the Sorting Hat, indicating that members of the Shafiq family have attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for many centuries.

While no individual member of the Shafiq family is featured prominently in the series, the family's name appears in two significant contexts that establish their historical importance in the wizarding world.

• Sorting Hat's Song: During the Battle of Hogwarts, the Sorting Hat sings a song recalling the many students it has sorted throughout history. It includes “Shafiq” in an alphabetical list of ancient wizarding surnames, placing them alongside families like Shunpike and preceding them with Quigley. This mention confirms the family's long-standing presence at Hogwarts.
• The Sacred Twenty-Eight: The Shafiq family is listed in the Pure-Blood Directory, an anonymous publication from the 1930s that aimed to identify the “definitive” list of twenty-eight British families that were still “truly” pure-blood. This list became known as the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Their inclusion signifies their status within certain wizarding circles that valued blood purity. (Pottermore)

The surname Shafiq (شفیق) is of Arabic origin. It is a name that translates to “compassionate,” “kind,” or “merciful.” This meaning presents a potential irony, given the association of many Sacred Twenty-Eight families with pure-blood supremacist ideologies, which are inherently prejudiced rather than compassionate.

• The complete list of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, which includes the Shafiq family, was not published within the original seven novels. It was later revealed by J.K. Rowling on the Pottermore website.
• Aside from the single mention in the Sorting Hat's song, no characters with the surname Shafiq appear or are otherwise mentioned in the Harry Potter book series.