The Islamization of Banu Sulayh Tribe: Transformation of the early arabo-islamic culture

Abstract

The Islamization of the Banu Sulayh tribe represents an important episode in the transformation of early Arab society during the formative period of Islam. Prior to Islam, the Banu Sulayh, like many Arab tribes, were embedded in a socio-cultural system shaped by tribal loyalty (ʿaṣabiyyah), customary law, and pre-Islamic religious practices. This study examines the process through which Islam was introduced, negotiated, and ultimately integrated into the social, cultural, and religious life of the Banu Sulayh tribe. Using a historical-analytical approach, the paper explores the mechanisms of religious conversion, the role of da‘wah and political alliances, and the reconfiguration of tribal identity under Islamic norms. The findings demonstrate that Islamization did not merely replace pre-Islamic traditions but reoriented them toward a new ethical, legal, and spiritual framework rooted in Islamic teachings. This transformation contributed to the formation of an early Arab-Islamic culture characterized by the synthesis of tribal structures and Islamic values. The case of Banu Sulayh highlights the dynamic nature of Islamization as a gradual and adaptive process rather than a sudden cultural rupture.