blog 10

The Tribe has always been an important concept in Arabian and Islamic history, creating divisions among its dwellers and followers. How has this caused problems in the history of Islam?
Muhammad tried to unite all people under Islam. The existence and value of tribes caused many problems for him and his successors. Creating and maintaining unity was made very hard by the fact that many tribes were enemies. After Muhammad’s death, Abu Talib (his uncle) put in tremendous efforts to keep the tribes united. As peoples’ alliances lay with their tribes, all wanted the next spiritual leader (the caliph) to be from their own tribe (or at least not an enemy tribe). Many revolts and wars throughout the history of Islam were caused by the split of Islam into 3, which initially was, in some degree, the result of tribal controversies and preferences.
The ancient tribal problems are still causing conflict. In several modern countries, such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan where the absolute majority of citizens are Muslim, religion and government is not enough to unite the people. Tribal loyalties for many of them aren’t only above religion; they are also above the law. People respect and fear their tribal laws and traditions more than they do formal law and central governments.