Mohammads teachings had such a magical effect upon the infields that they converted to Islam leaving behind all considerations of region, language and colour. We have already seen that a large number of persons, perhaps some ten thousand or more, were completely convinced by Muhammad's preachings. Most of these dedicated enthusiasts were people of Mecca or Medina or the tribes in the immediate vicinity. But the more distant tribes were but little affected and many of them regarded the Messanger of God as a potential ruler, similar to the Himyarities, the Lakhmids or Beni Ghassan. When the Apostle begun to grow powerful, deputations of tribal chiefs visited him, Professed allegiance and received gifts in return. This was a puerly political manoeuvre, which had been employed in Arabic since before the drawn of history. The fact that most of the tribes regarded him as a political figure is shown by the tribal revolt which broke out over most of peninsula immediately after his death. We are, therefore, probably right is assuming that the first cause of the success of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula was the ability of the Prophet to inspire almost unlimited devotion in person with whome he came in close contact.
