After the Arab conquest of Iran, a dual social system of Arabs and Mawali emerged, particularly in regions where the conquerors settled. Rooted in Arab historical and tribal traditions, this duality created significant intellectual, cultural, and social challenges for Iranians who converted to Islam. This research employs documentary methods and a systematic review of scientific sources to examine this social system, aiming to identify its fundamental characteristics and the nature of the Iranian response.



The findings indicate that Arab Muslims utilized the institution of walā’ (clientage)—an ancient tribal tradition—to integrate non-Arab converts into their tribal structure, establishing a social order based on dependency. The Iranians’ exposure to this system was not uniform, varying according to their social status, political influence, and the timing of their conversion. Until the mid-second century AH, due to the slow spread of Islam and the limited political role of Iranians, their reactions were largely individualistic and scattered, manifesting in behaviors such as bypassing the requirements of the walā’ relationship, concealing ethnic identity, or assimilating into Arab culture.



However, as the population of Iranian Muslims grew and their position within the political structure improved—particularly during the Abbasid era—more coherent movements emerged. Supported by egalitarian intellectual trends, these movements challenged the Mawali system by emphasizing Islamic teachings of human equality, rejecting privileges based on lineage or ethnicity, and advocating for the recognition of distinct cultural identities. This evolution facilitated a crucial distinction between Islam as a universal religion and Arabism as an ethnic identity, allowing Iranians to embrace Islam while simultaneously preserving and redefining their own historical and cultural heritage.