And 'tribes' (al-qaba'il) are the tribes of the Arabs.
Muhammad said: The singular of 'peoples' (al-shu'ub) is 'sha'b' with a fatha (vowel sign) on the 'ayn' letter. However, 'shi'b' with a kasra (vowel sign) means a path; meaning, in a mountain.
[That you may know one another] (Quran 49:13): Then the speech is interrupted, and then He said: [Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah]—meaning in rank—[is the most righteous of you] (in this world).
والقبائل: قبائل الْعَرَب.
قَالَ محمدٌ: وَاحِد الشعوب: شَعب - بِفَتْح الْعين - والشَّعْب بالكسْر: الطَّرِيق؛ يَعْنِي: فِي الْجَبَل.
﴿لتعارفوا﴾ ثمَّ انْقَطع الْكَلَام، ثمَّ قَالَ: ﴿إِن أكْرمكُم عِنْد الله﴾ يَعْنِي: فِي الْمنزلَة ﴿أَتْقَاكُم﴾ (فِي الدُّنْيَا).
