Arabs vs. ‘Aarabs

In modern Arabic, there is a distinction between the word Arab ( عْرَاب ) and A’rab ( أَعْرَاب ), where the former means Arabs and the latter implies bedouin. Interestingly, the Quran does not use the term Arab ( ٱلْعْرَاب ), but only the term Aʿrab ( ٱلْأَعْرَاب ). This is because the Quran does not appear to make this distinction that is found in modern Arabic that A’arab ( أَعْرَاب ) means exclusively bedouins.

The word is used ten times in the Quran.

1	l-aʿrābi	ٱلْأَعْرَابِ	9:90:4
2	l-aʿrābu	ٱلْأَعْرَابُ	9:97:1
3	l-aʿrābi	ٱلْأَعْرَابِ	9:98:2
4	l-aʿrābi	ٱلْأَعْرَابِ	9:99:2
5	l-aʿrābi	ٱلْأَعْرَابِ	9:101:4
6	l-aʿrābi	ٱلْأَعْرَابِ	9:120:8
7	l-aʿrābi	ٱلْأَعْرَابِ	33:20:13
8	l-aʿrābi	ٱلْأَعْرَابِ	48:11:5
9	l-aʿrābi	ٱلْأَعْرَابِ	48:16:4
10	l-aʿrābu	ٱلْأَعْرَابُ	49:14:2

Let’s examine these verses and see if the term is only about the Bedouins or all Arabs.

#1

In this first example, we see that among the A’rabs, there were individuals seeking to stay behind the messenger and not participate in battle. It would not make sense to assume that it was only among the Bedouins who desired to remain behind from mobilizing and that the rest of the Arabs had no reservations.

[9:90] The Arabs made up excuses, and came to you seeking permission to stay behind. This is indicative of their rejection of GOD and His messenger—they stay behind. Indeed, those who disbelieve among them have incurred a painful retribution.

 وَجَآءَ ٱلْمُعَذِّرُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ لِيُؤْذَنَ لَهُمْ وَقَعَدَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَبُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ سَيُصِيبُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

1	wajāa	وَجَآءَ	And [he] came
2	l-muʿadhirūna	ٱلْمُعَذِّرُونَ	the apologists / ones who make excuses
3	mina	مِنَ	among
4	l-aʿrābi	ٱلْأَعْرَابِ	the Arabs,
5	liyu’dhana	لِيُؤْذَنَ	that he may be granted permission / given leave
6	lahum	لَهُمْ	to them,

#2, 3, 4

The next set of verses shows that among the A’rabs, there were those who were the worst in disbelief and hypocrisy, as well as some of the best believers. This again shows that the A’rabs encompass the entire community the messenger was sent to and not just the Bedouins. We also see that it indicates that the Muhãjerin and Ansãr were part of the group of A’rabs who did believe in God and the Last Day. Again, this shows that the Quran uses the term A’rab towards all Arab people and not exclusively for bedouins.

[9:97] The Arabs are the worst in disbelief and hypocrisy, and the most likely to ignore the laws that GOD has revealed to His messenger. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise.

 ٱلْأَعْرَابُ أَشَدُّ كُفْرًا وَنِفَاقًا وَأَجْدَرُ أَلَّا يَعْلَمُوا۟ حُدُودَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

[9:98] Some of the Arabs consider their spending (in the cause of God) to be a loss, and even wait in anticipation that a disaster may hit you. It is they who will incur the worst disaster. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.

وَمِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنفِقُ مَغْرَمًا وَيَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمُ ٱلدَّوَآئِرَ عَلَيْهِمْ دَآئِرَةُ ٱلسَّوْءِ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

[9:99] Other Arabs do believe in GOD and the Last Day, and consider their spending to be a means towards GOD, and a means of supporting the messenger. Indeed, it will bring them nearer; GOD will admit them into His mercy. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

 وَمِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَيَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنفِقُ قُرُبَـٰتٍ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَصَلَوَٰتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ أَلَآ إِنَّهَا قُرْبَةٌ لَّهُمْ سَيُدْخِلُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِى رَحْمَتِهِۦٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

[9:100] As for the early vanguards who immigrated (Muhãjerin), and the supporters who gave them refuge (Ansãr) and those who followed them in righteousness, GOD is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. He has prepared for them gardens with flowing streams, wherein they abide forever. This is the greatest triumph.

 وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَـٰنٍ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى تَحْتَهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ

#5

The next occurrence of the word A’rab used in the Quran occurs in the following verse which indicates that the people the prophet was sent to can be split into a larger group known as Arabs ( ٱلْأَعْرَابِ ), and within that group, a subset, which were the people of the city ( ahli l-madīnati / أَهْلِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ ). It is worth noting that the term in Arabic for ‘city’ is Medina ( مدينة ), which is where the prophet resided after Hijra. Therefore, a subset of the Arabs ( ٱلْأَعْرَابِ ) were the ones living in Medina with the prophet (the city dwellers).

[9:101] Among the Arabs around you, there are hypocrites. Also, among the city dwellers, there are those who are accustomed to hypocrisy. You do not know them, but we know them. We will double the retribution for them, then they end up committed to a terrible retribution.

 وَمِمَّنْ حَوْلَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ مُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَمِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ مَرَدُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنِّفَاقِ لَا تَعْلَمُهُمْ نَحْنُ نَعْلَمُهُمْ سَنُعَذِّبُهُم مَّرَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَذَابٍ عَظِيمٍ

1	wa-mimman	وَمِمَّنْ	And among those
2	ḥawlakum	حَوْلَكُم	around you [all]
3	mina	مِّنَ	some (of)
4	l-aʿrābi	ٱلْأَعْرَابِ	the Arabs (are)
5	munāfiqūna	مُنَـٰفِقُونَ	hypocrites
6	wamin	وَمِنْ	and (also) from
7	ahli	أَهْلِ	people (of)
8	l-madīnati	ٱلْمَدِينَةِ	the Medina / city (dwellers).
9	maradū	مَرَدُوا۟	They persisted / are accustomed
10	ʿalā	عَلَى	in
11	l-nifāqi	ٱلنِّفَاقِ	the hypocrisy,
12	lā	لَا	not
13	taʿlamuhum	تَعْلَمُهُمْ	you know them,
14	naḥnu	نَحْنُ	we
15	naʿlamuhum	نَعْلَمُهُمْ	[we] know them.

#6

The next occurrence reinforces this understanding that among all the people to whom the prophet gave the message, the broader group was known as the A’rabs, and within the A’rabs were the city dwellers, the people of Medina.

[9:120] Neither the dwellers of the city, nor the Arabs around them, shall seek to stay behind the messenger of GOD (when he mobilizes for war). Nor shall they give priority to their own affairs over supporting him. This is because they do not suffer any thirst, or any effort, or hunger in the cause of GOD, or make a single step that enrages the disbelievers, or inflict any hardship upon the enemy, without having it written down for them as a credit. GOD never fails to recompense those who work righteousness.

 مَا كَانَ لِأَهْلِ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ أَن يَتَخَلَّفُوا۟ عَن رَّسُولِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَرْغَبُوا۟ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ عَن نَّفْسِهِۦ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ لَا يُصِيبُهُمْ ظَمَأٌ وَلَا نَصَبٌ وَلَا مَخْمَصَةٌ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَطَـُٔونَ مَوْطِئًا يَغِيظُ ٱلْكُفَّارَ وَلَا يَنَالُونَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ نَّيْلًا إِلَّا كُتِبَ لَهُم بِهِۦ عَمَلٌ صَـٰلِحٌ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

1	mā	مَا	Not
2	kāna	كَانَ	it was
3	li-ahli	لِأَهْلِ	for (the) people (of)
4	l-madīnati	ٱلْمَدِينَةِ	the Medina / city (dwellers)
5	waman	وَمَنْ	and who
6	ḥawlahum	حَوْلَهُم	(were) around them
7	mina	مِّنَ	of
8	l-aʿrābi	ٱلْأَعْرَابِ	the Arabs,
9	an	أَن	that
10	yatakhallafū	يَتَخَلَّفُوا۟	they stay behind
11	ʿan	عَن	after
12	rasūli	رَّسُولِ	(the) messenger
13	l-lahi	ٱللَّهِ	(of) God,

#7

In the next occurrence, we see that the A’rab is used with the term ‘desert’ ( bādūna / بَادُونَ ) to insinuate bedouins. If the term A’rab was sufficient to imply a bedouin, then it wouldn’t have been necessary to include the word desert in conjunction. This also shows that the term for bedouin, according to the Quran, would not be A’rab but would have been badawi ( بدوي ), which would be derived from the same root as bādūna ( بَادُونَ ).

[33:20] They thought that the parties might come back. In that case, they would wish that they were living in the desert among the Arabs, asking about your news from afar. Had the parties attacked you while they were with you, they would rarely support you.

 يَحْسَبُونَ ٱلْأَحْزَابَ لَمْ يَذْهَبُوا۟ وَإِن يَأْتِ ٱلْأَحْزَابُ يَوَدُّوا۟ لَوْ أَنَّهُم بَادُونَ فِى ٱلْأَعْرَابِ يَسْـَٔلُونَ عَنْ أَنۢبَآئِكُمْ وَلَوْ كَانُوا۟ فِيكُم مَّا قَـٰتَلُوٓا۟ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

1	yaḥsabūna	يَحْسَبُونَ	They think
2	l-aḥzāba	ٱلْأَحْزَابَ	the opponents / parties
3	lam	لَمْ	not
4	yadhhabū	يَذْهَبُوا۟	they go away.
5	wa-in	وَإِن	And if
6	yati	يَأْتِ	[it] comes
7	l-aḥzābu	ٱلْأَحْزَابُ	the opponents / parties,
8	yawaddū	يَوَدُّوا۟	they wish
9	law	لَوْ	if
10	annahum	أَنَّهُم	that they (were)
11	bādūna	بَادُونَ	living (in the) desert
12	fī	فِى	among
13	l-aʿrābi	ٱلْأَعْرَابِ	the Arabs,
14	yasalūna	يَسْـَٔلُونَ	they ask
15	ʿan	عَنْ	about
16	anbāikum	أَنۢبَآئِكُمْ	your news.

#8, 9, 10

In the eighth and ninth occurrences, we again see statements made by Arabs as a whole that would not be limited only to the Bedouins but anyone among the prophet.

[48:11] The sedentary Arabs who stay behind will say, “We have been preoccupied with our money and our families, so ask forgiveness for us!” They utter with their tongues what is not in their hearts. Say, “Who can protect you from GOD, if He willed any adversity for you, or if He willed any blessing for you?” GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do.

 سَيَقُولُ لَكَ ٱلْمُخَلَّفُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ شَغَلَتْنَآ أَمْوَٰلُنَا وَأَهْلُونَا فَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَنَا يَقُولُونَ بِأَلْسِنَتِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ قُلْ فَمَن يَمْلِكُ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا إِنْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ ضَرًّا أَوْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ نَفْعًۢا بَلْ كَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًۢا

[48:16] Say to the sedentary Arabs who stay behind, “You will be invited to face powerful people and to fight them, unless they submit. If you obey, GOD will reward you with a generous recompense. But if you turn away again, as you did in the past, He will requite you with a painful retribution.”

 قُل لِّلْمُخَلَّفِينَ مِنَ ٱلْأَعْرَابِ سَتُدْعَوْنَ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍ أُو۟لِى بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ تُقَـٰتِلُونَهُمْ أَوْ يُسْلِمُونَ فَإِن تُطِيعُوا۟ يُؤْتِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا وَإِن تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ كَمَا تَوَلَّيْتُم مِّن قَبْلُ يُعَذِّبْكُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا

[49:14] The Arabs said, “We are Mu’mens (believers).” Say, “You have not believed; what you should say is, ‘We are Muslims (submitters),’ until belief is established in your hearts.” If you obey GOD and His messenger, He will not put any of your works to waste. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

قَالَتِ ٱلْأَعْرَابُ ءَامَنَّا قُل لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ وَلَـٰكِن قُولُوٓا۟ أَسْلَمْنَا وَلَمَّا يَدْخُلِ ٱلْإِيمَـٰنُ فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَإِن تُطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ لَا يَلِتْكُم مِّنْ أَعْمَـٰلِكُمْ شَيْـًٔا إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Motivation

Now that we have seen that the Quran uses the term Aʿrab ( ٱلْأَعْرَاب ) for all Arabs and does not use the term Arab ( ٱلْعْرَاب ), one has to ask what is the motivation for the Arabs to want to differentiate themselves from their roots.

One reason may be that the Quran does not speak kindly in some verses regarding some of the Arabs, stating that they are the worst in hypocrisy and disbelief (9:97-98, 101) and eager to stay behind the messenger by not mobilizing when commanded (9:120).

Even among the Hadith corpus, it makes the A’rabs as unsophisticated, uneducated, argumentative, simpltons.

Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet (ﷺ) saw a bedouin urinating in the mosque and told the people not to disturb him. When he finished, the Prophet (ﷺ) asked for some water and poured it over (the urine).

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رَأَى أَعْرَابِيًّا يَبُولُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَقَالَ ‏ “‏ دَعُوهُ ‏”‏‏.‏ حَتَّى إِذَا فَرَغَ دَعَا بِمَاءٍ فَصَبَّهُ عَلَيْهِ‏.‏

Sahih al-Bukhari 219
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:219

Ibn Dinar reported that a desert Arab met Abdullah b. ‘Umar on the way to Mecca. ‘Abdullah greeted him and mounted him upon the donkey on which he had been riding and gave him the turban that he had on his head. Ibn Dinar (further) reported: We said to him (‘Abdullah b. ‘Umar): May Allah do good to you, these are Bedouins and they are satisfied even with meager (things). Thereupon Abdullah said: His father was loved dearly by ‘Umar b. Khattib and I heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: The finest act of goodness on the part of a son is to treat kindly the loved ones of his father.

حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَرْحٍ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ، عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي الْوَلِيدِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، مِنَ الأَعْرَابِ لَقِيَهُ بِطَرِيقِ مَكَّةَ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَحَمَلَهُ عَلَى حِمَارٍ كَانَ يَرْكَبُهُ وَأَعْطَاهُ عِمَامَةً كَانَتْ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ فَقَالَ ابْنُ دِينَارٍ فَقُلْنَا لَهُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ إِنَّهُمُ الأَعْرَابُ وَإِنَّهُمْ يَرْضَوْنَ بِالْيَسِيرِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أَبَا هَذَا كَانَ وُدًّا لِعُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ وَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ إِنَّ أَبَرَّ الْبِرِّ صِلَةُ الْوَلَدِ أَهْلَ وُدِّ أَبِيهِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sahih Muslim 2552a
https://sunnah.com/muslim:2552a

Anas b. Malik said: The Prophet (ﷺ) was brought milk that was mixed with water. A bedouin was on his right and Abu Bakr was on his left. He himself drank and gave it to the bedouin Arab, and said: He who is on the right , then he who is on his right then he who is on his right.

حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أُتِيَ بِلَبَنٍ قَدْ شِيبَ بِمَاءٍ وَعَنْ يَمِينِهِ أَعْرَابِيٌّ وَعَنْ يَسَارِهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ فَشَرِبَ ثُمَّ أَعْطَى الأَعْرَابِيَّ وَقَالَ ‏ “‏ الأَيْمَنَ فَالأَيْمَنَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sunan Abi Dawud 3726
https://sunnah.com/abudawud:3726

Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah: A bedouin gave the Pledge of allegiance to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) for Islam. Then the bedouin got fever at Medina, came to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Cancel my Pledge,” But Allah’s Apostle refused. Then he came to him (again) and said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Cancel my Pledge.” But the Prophet (ﷺ) refused. Then he came to him (again) and said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Cancel my Pledge.” But the Prophet (ﷺ) refused. The bedouin finally went out (of Medina) whereupon Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Medina is like a pair of bellows (furnace): It expels its impurities and brightens and clears its good.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ،‏.‏ أَنَّ أَعْرَابِيًّا، بَايَعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ فَأَصَابَ الأَعْرَابِيَّ وَعْكٌ بِالْمَدِينَةِ، فَأَتَى الأَعْرَابِيُّ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَقِلْنِي بَيْعَتِي، فَأَبَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ فَقَالَ أَقِلْنِي بَيْعَتِي فَأَبَى، ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ فَقَالَ أَقِلْنِي بَيْعَتِي فَأَبَى فَخَرَجَ الأَعْرَابِيُّ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ إِنَّمَا الْمَدِينَةُ كَالْكِيرِ تَنْفِي خَبَثَهَا وَيَنْصَعُ طِيبُهَا ‏”‏‏.‏

Sahih al-Bukhari 7211
https://sunnah.com/bukhari:7211

Narrated Uncle of Umarah ibn Khuzaymah: The Prophet (ﷺ) bought a horse from a Bedouin. The Prophet (ﷺ) took him with him to pay him the price of his horse. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) walked quickly and the Bedouin walked slowly. The people stopped the Bedouin and began to bargain with him for the horse as and they did not know that the Prophet (ﷺ) had bought it. The Bedouin called the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: If you want this horse, (then buy it), otherwise I shall sell it. The Prophet (ﷺ) stopped when he heard the call of the Bedouin, and said: Have I not bought it from you? The Bedouin said: I swear by Allah, I have not sold it to you. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Yes, I have bought it from you. The Bedouin began to say: Bring a witness. Khuzaymah ibn Thabit then said: I bear witness that you have bought it. The Prophet (ﷺ) turned to Khuzaymah and said: On what (grounds) do you bear witness? He said: By considering you trustworthy, Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)! The Prophet (ﷺ) made the witness of Khuzaymah equivalent to the witness of two people.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى بْنِ فَارِسٍ، أَنَّ الْحَكَمَ بْنَ نَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَهُمْ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ خُزَيْمَةَ، أَنَّ عَمَّهُ، حَدَّثَهُ وَهُوَ، مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ابْتَاعَ فَرَسًا مِنْ أَعْرَابِيٍّ فَاسْتَتْبَعَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِيَقْضِيَهُ ثَمَنَ فَرَسِهِ فَأَسْرَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْمَشْىَ وَأَبْطَأَ الأَعْرَابِيُّ فَطَفِقَ رِجَالٌ يَعْتَرِضُونَ الأَعْرَابِيَّ فَيُسَاوِمُونَهُ بِالْفَرَسِ وَلاَ يَشْعُرُونَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ابْتَاعَهُ فَنَادَى الأَعْرَابِيُّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ إِنْ كُنْتَ مُبْتَاعًا هَذَا الْفَرَسَ وَإِلاَّ بِعْتُهُ ‏.‏ فَقَامَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ سَمِعَ نِدَاءَ الأَعْرَابِيِّ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ أَوَلَيْسَ قَدِ ابْتَعْتُهُ مِنْكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ الأَعْرَابِيُّ لاَ وَاللَّهِ مَا بِعْتُكَهُ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ بَلَى قَدِ ابْتَعْتُهُ مِنْكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَطَفِقَ الأَعْرَابِيُّ يَقُولُ هَلُمَّ شَهِيدًا ‏.‏ فَقَالَ خُزَيْمَةُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ أَنَا أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَدْ بَايَعْتَهُ ‏.‏ فَأَقْبَلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى خُزَيْمَةَ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ بِمَ تَشْهَدُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ بِتَصْدِيقِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ فَجَعَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم شَهَادَةَ خُزَيْمَةَ بِشَهَادَةِ رَجُلَيْنِ ‏.‏

Sunan Abi Dawud 3607
https://sunnah.com/abudawud:3607

Language of the People

Despite the attempt to differentiate Arabs from A’rabs and the repeated bashing of the A’rabs in the Hadith, one aspect that the history books and Hadith corpus acknowledges was that the A’rabs had the most in-depth knowledge of the vocabulary of the Quran. By this logic, this would imply that the prophet and the people of the prophet were A’rabs, and this differentiation between the A’rabs and Arabs was a later innovation.

In Shafi’i’s Risalah, it states on page 55 in the Arabic, and page 23 of the translation by Joseph E. Lowry the following:

“Knoweldge of Arabic among the Bedouins is like knowledge of the Prophet’s Practice among legal scholars.”

According to the site Arabic for Nerds, it states:

“The early works on grammar, as well as the first dictionaries, were very much based on the spoken Arabic of Bedouins. The grammarians regarded the Bedouin as the true speaker of Arabic...It is related that Caliphs, who wanted their sons to speak impeccable Arabic, had sent their sons into the desert to the Bedouins.“

Additionally, the Quran informs us that it was sent down in the perfect Arabic tongue.

[12:2] We have revealed it an Arabic Quran, that you may understand.

 إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ قُرْءَٰنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

[26:195] In a perfect Arabic tongue.

 بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِىٍّ مُّبِينٍ

And, messengers are selected from among their own people and preach in the tongue of their people.

[14:4] We did not send any messenger except (to preach) in the tongue of his people, in order to clarify things for them. GOD then sends astray whomever He wills, and guides whomever He wills. He is the Almighty, the Most Wise.

 وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا بِلِسَانِ قَوْمِهِۦ لِيُبَيِّنَ لَهُمْ فَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

[19:97] We thus made this (Quran) elucidated in your tongue, in order to deliver good news to the righteous, and to warn with it the opponents.

 فَإِنَّمَا يَسَّرْنَـٰهُ بِلِسَانِكَ لِتُبَشِّرَ بِهِ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ وَتُنذِرَ بِهِۦ قَوْمًا لُّدًّا

[2:151] (Blessings) such as the sending of a messenger from among you to recite our revelations to you, purify you, teach you the scripture and wisdom, and to teach you what you never knew.

 كَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا فِيكُمْ رَسُولًا مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا وَيُزَكِّيكُمْ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُوا۟ تَعْلَمُونَ

[7:35] O children of Adam, when messengers come to you from among you, and recite My revelations to you, those who take heed and lead a righteous life, will have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.

 يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ إِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَقُصُّونَ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِى فَمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

Therefore, if the A’rabs are the people whose language most aligns with the Quran, and messengers are sent from among their own people to preach in their native tongue, then Muhammad and the earliest Muslims were all A’rabs. This is why the Quran does not use the term Arab ( ٱلْعْرَاب ), only A’rab ( ٱلْأَعْرَاب ), in reference to all the prophet preached to.