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.”