The people of what is now the Sh'areen Calipahte first lived in the central and north regions of that area but spread as the Caliphate did. Now they are numerous and because of successful trade have also spread across the world.  

Social Strata

While the Sh'reen are very liberal in some respects compared to other cultures, such as relationships, sexuality, matters of personal expression, and so on, it is very conservative in others. Social mobility is next to impossible within a single generation. Religion governs nearly every aspect of life, and loyalty to family, nobility, and the Caliph takes up most of the other priorities. Individual freedom is valued only so far as it doesn't upset the status quo.   It can be helpful to think of honour as an extremely valued trait that can be increased or decreased depending on the actions of yourself and those you are aligned with. This honour is mostly affected by four different areas: individual action, religious action, loyal action, and societal action. Here are a few examples:  
Any honourable or dishonourable act reflects not only on the individual but also on their family, their noble house, their class, and eventually the Caliphate as a whole. The higher the status of the person in question, the greater the effect is. A high noble better behave or their entire people will suffer from shame. And they must keep those beneath them in line or their house will suffer for a long time. This is also a major factor in making everyone want to remain honourable as anything else would also hurt the ones they love.   The following table attempts to provide an overview of the different classes of society. In most cases, it is impossible to change class, but marriage across class borders can allow children to rise or sink in status compared to a parent. Children of married parents are considered to be of the status of the highest class of their parents. Those born to unmarried parents are instead of the lower class of their parents, or just of their mother if the father is unknown.  

Rank	Description
Caliph	The Celestial summoned to act as Caliph is the absolute ruler of the Sh'areen Caliphate.
Divine Guide	While assumed to be apolitical, the Divine Guides are the priests closest to the Caliph.
Qel'tath	The leaders of a noble house is directly responsible for an area of the Caliphate. Which houses outrank each other is a matter of honour, size and wealth of their territory, as well as history.
Sh'areen Senator	While more directly involved in the central government, a senator is a representation of a Qel'tath, not their superior. A senator of a significant house might consider themselves more important than the Qel'tath of a small one but would never state that outright in public.
High Noble	The closest in line to be Qel'tath is considered a High Noble. The more important the house, the more people will be included and the higher the rank of the High Noble compared to others of this class.
Hand of the Caliphate	Hands are the members of society that provide great services. Generals, those who organise great cities, ministers, etc. This is the only high class that is theoretically attainable by service alone. In practice, most Hands are the children of Hands before them. Their contacts help, and many assume that talent is inherited. When others reach this rank, they are typically nobles or high nobles that focus on service to the Caliphate rather than their own ambitions.
Noble	Nobility is important, even if they're not part of the group closest to rule. They can expect to be treated with respect no matter what. Their houses usually provide them with some resources, depending on how far they are from the Qel'tath. They might not all live a life of luxury, but they are able to remain above most.
Excel	These are the people in valued positions. Most of the ranking staff in public service land here, even if they're a simple scribe or guard captain. But this level also, and slightly more respected, includes wealthy merchants and skilled artisans. Like with Hands, almost all of the Excels are children of those within the same class as they inherit the means to their position. It happens that one of them fail enough to be considered a commoner, or that a commoner comes into enough wealth that their children are recognised as Excels by the Hands responsible for assigning such titles. This might also be where a noble who has no ability to sustain themselves through contacts might end up.
Commoner	The majority of free people fall into this category. They have jobs that are important and only requires some skill. Low-status work requiring much skill and talent are also part of the functions this class serves. This includes cobblers, farmers, road builders, and many more.
Undesired	Every society has those who do the jobs no one else is willing to do. They are too poor or too desperate to say no. Being assigned to this class is also a potential punishment for crime. This means that criminals, in general, are considered undesirables, and anyone of this class is often suspected of having criminal tendencies.
Slave	While often treated a lot better than the Undesired, slaves are lower in class. But a good slave isn't wasted on labour that would cost less to hire an undesirable to do instead of risking the slave. Of course, they still are ultimately not allowed to disobey and lack many rights of free people. An owner is free to buy and sell their slaves freely and restrictions on treatments of slaves are lax. But a slave is expensive and while an Excel might be able to afford one, they can't be reckless with such a valuable asset. Only nobility and up are likely to have more than one slave, and even a Qel'tath's dozen or two are valuable enough that they will handle them with some care.
Non-persons	A few people have no more rights than animals. Very little evidence of a goblin being up to no good is needed to free someone of murder charges against them, for instance.