When the Leader of a Tribe Became Muslim

There are different types of people. But in general, at that time it was very simple. There was still a tribal mentality in which, when the amīr, the leader of a tribe, became Muslim or took on some ideology, sometimes all the people of his entire tribe would follow. That is what was suggested and advised to Muṣʿab ibn ʿUmayr (may Allah be pleased with him) when he started teaching in Madīnah Munawwarah, sent by the Prophet (peace be upon him). He had a few converts, and then a few people started to complain about his activities. Somebody advised him to go and speak to the leader of the main tribe there, Saʿd (may Allah be pleased with him). He went and spoke to him; Saʿd converted; and it is related that within a few days the entire tribe had converted^*.

So people were not as individualistic. Today there is a problem of individualism, where a person does not even know his neighbour, or who they are. We are so into our own world, because we feel this false sense of security with the money, or with the credit cards that we have, and the ability that we think we have on our own, such that we do not really need anybody else's help. It has become a far more complex world. Today children are not really seen holding the same perspectives as their parents. Yet that was the case before: one could look at a youth who was just growing up and see exactly which direction he was going to go, because his family had gone in that direction; because there was a certain trait that they had, or a certain trend that they had, or a certain occupation that they had. That is no longer the case. It is no longer the case. It is becoming a lot more complex. People are going out there and studying various different disciplines.