Strategies against Islam

Strategies against Islam

The Quraysh warn pilgrims 

 With the Muslims growing in number, the Quraysh became increasingly perturbed. It was close to the time of the annua pilgrimage (Hajj) to the Ka’bah, and people from all over the peninsula were expected in Makkah before long. The Quraysh feared the Muslims would attract and influence the visitors. They also worried about the loss of face that would ensue if a rival religion flourished in the stronghold of their gods.

A delegation of the Quraysh called on Waleed bin Mugheera, who was old and a man of standing.
He said, “O people of Quraysh, the time of Hajj has come, and people from all sides will come to you. They have all heard about Muhammad, so agree upon what to say about him lest you contradict one another.” The people said, “You say something and decide on that course for us.” He said, “No, you speak and I shall listen to you.” The People said, “Well, we will say he is a soothsayer.” “He is not a soothsayer,” said Waleed. “He neither speaks nor versifies like them.” “Then we will say he is mad,” someone suggested. “He is not mad,” Waleed said. “We all know the signs of madness. He does not behave erratically, nor is his speech confused.” “Then we shall say that he is a poet.” “But he is not a poet,” Waleed pointed out. “We know the different kinds of poetry, and his words can’t be compared to any of them. He is therefore not a poet.” “Well, we will say he is a sorcerer,” another pointed out. “We have seen sorcery and sorcerers. He practices neither the art of exorcism nor the tying of knots.” Waleed explained. The people said, “What shall we say then?” Waleed thought for a moment and said,

“By God, his words are sweet and fresh and attractive. His root is firm and his branches are fruitful. Hence, whatever you claim about him will not be believed. However, it is more convincing, in my opinion, if you were to present him as a sorcerer. You should say that he has brought a message by which he creates a rift between father and son, brother and brother, husband and wife. Under his influence, families break because of him.”

Having agreed upon this line of defence, the Quraysh formed small groups to spread the propaganda. They waited along the different paths leading the pilgrims to their destination and caution every passer-by about the Prophet , with the result that almost everyone formed an impression of the Prophet without having seen or heard him.

When the days of Hajj came, the Prophet rose to meet the pilgrims in gatherings. He also called on them at their camps to invite them to Islam. He would say: “O people! Say La ilaaha illallah and you will attain success.” Abu Lahab, meanwhile, would walk behind the Prophet , belittling him. Thus, by the time the pilgrims returned from Hajj that year, all of Arabia knew of Muhammad and his mission, either through his own efforts or those of his detractors.

Various strategies against Islam

 After performing Hajj the pilgrims returned home to face the disquieting issue of a new, rival religion. Having lapsed into polytheism for so long, the Arabs saw Islam as a new religion, one they had to stamp out. They refused to acknowledge that it was simply a return to the pristine monotheism preached by their forefathers, Ibraheem and Isma’eel.

The outraged pagans devised various ways to deal with the current situation, confident that these plans, when put into action, would vanquish the threat of Islam. Their tactics included ridicule, abuse, slander, debate, and open harassment of the Prophet and his followers.

Ridicule, contempt and mockery

To demoralise and demean the Messenger of Allah , the pagan Arabs began to vilify him: “This is a poet, a madman, a soothsayer … Satan comes to him and teaches him … He is a sorcerer, a liar.” When they encountered the Prophet , they would glare at him and say scornfully: “This is the man who decries our gods!” The idolaters would taunt the Muslims as they passed by them: “Look! The rulers of the earth come to you. Has Allah entrusted us to them?” This was a contemptuous reference to the weak social stature of the Muslim minority who had dared to confront the powerful minority.

The unjust ridicule and condemnation deeply hurt even the Prophet . Allah says: “We know that your breast is distressed by what they say.” (15: 97)

Allah then revealed the verses of inspiration and comfort to
help the Prophet remain steadfast: “Therefore, magnify the praises of your Lord, and be among those who prostrate themselves before Him.” (15: 98)

 In other verses, the Prophet was told that Allah alone would judge the evildoers and polytheists, and that they would soon reap the fruit of their evil deeds. Consoling himself and his followers, the Prophet said, “The messengers who came before me have also been laughed at and condemned, but the mockers found themselves surrounded on all sides by their own disdain.”

To be continued..

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