Final answer:
In Muslim society, status was initially based on family connections and later also on the distinction between conquerors and the conquered. Scholars like Ibn Sina and Al-Khawarizmi were significant for their intellectual contributions, not social structuring. The unifying force within the ummah was the shared belief in Islamic tenets and the networks of trade and travel.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Muslim society, social groups were primarily based on family connections and the distinction between Arab and non-Arab, and later Muslim and non-Muslim. Ibn Sina and Al-Khawarizmi were noted scholars within the Islamic world, contributing significantly to the fields of philosophy and mathematics, respectively. However, they were not the basis of social group formation. The 'ummah', or community of believers, was united by the belief in one God, Muhammad's leadership, and mutual defense. The status within the early Muslim communities was heavily reliant on whether one was a conqueror or conquered, and allegiance to shared historical traditions and core beliefs provided unity and coherence among Muslims.
Trade and travel were foundational to the expansion of Islam, allowing it to spread its influence much further than its military might alone could have achieved. By the 16th century, a network based on trade and travel carried Islam from Spain and Morocco to the gates of China. The early Muslim society also saw the rise of important figures like Ibn Khaldun, who laid the groundwork for modern sociology and economics and expanded on the understanding of social dynamics.