William Muir

“ Now as well as later on there was also the mutual jealousy of the two cities of Mecca with its southern Arab population, and Medina with its northern. Even in Medina, cradle of the Faith, the Aus were impatient of the Khazraj and both were jealous of the Ansar. The only authority recognised by a Bedawi is that of his tribal chief, and even that sits lightly. To him freedom is life and dependence on a central power most hateful. If nothing external had supervened, he would soon have shaken off the yoke of Islam, and Arabia would have returned to its primeval state. ”

“ And ever, at the marvellous tale of cities conquered; of rapine rich beyond compute; of maidens parted on the very field of battle "to every man a damsel or two"; and at the sight of the royal fifth set forth in splendour as it reached Medina;—fresh tribes arose and went. Onward and still onward, like swarms from the hive, or flights of locusts darkening the land, tribe after tribe issued forth and hastening northward, spread in great masses to the East and to the West.
Discredit still attaching to apostasy. ”

“ The Bedawi, wont to wander wild and free over his pathless deserts, chafed at the demand of tithe, and spurned obedience to Medina. Simply force and fear as yet attached him to the Caliph. The question occurs, what would have been the fortune of Islam had no great impulse arisen from without? The prospect was not encouraging. Convictions so shallow, and aspirations so low, as those of the Bedawin would soon have disappeared; force and fear would not long have availed to hold together such disintegrated materials as go to form the Arab nation. The South was jealous of the North ”