Final answer:
Social groups in Muslim society were defined by the relationship of conqueror versus conquered, with significant influence coming from the Ummah, which promoted a shared Muslim identity. The ulama and the sharia also contributed to the cohesive structure of the society, particularly through regulated trade networks.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Muslim society, social groups were largely based on the differentiation of conqueror versus conquered, which primarily entailed those who provided and received state benefits and protection. These societal distinctions were, in the initial centuries of Islamic history, more pivotal than ethnic or religious divisions. However, the concept of the Ummah, or the community of believers, presented a unifying identity for Muslims that transcended language, ethnicity, and cultural differences. The Ummah was bound together by core beliefs, frequenting mosques, common religious practices such as the five pillars of Islam, and engaging in trade and travel within an extensive network of Islamic states. While the societies across the Islamic world were politically fragmented, their cohesion was cultivated through religion, shared values, and scholarly collaborations among members of the ulama, who were religious clerics and scholars who interpreted Islamic law. The sharia, which is the Islamic religious law, played an integral role in regulating trade, solidifying trust among Muslim traders, and thus aiding the spread of Islam.