Why Did The Quraish not accept the message of the Prophet?

Ambreen Khan

Islamic Studies

Why did the Quraish oppose the message of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)?

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) grew up in the tribe of Quraish, which translates to ‘those who are successful.’ They were the most elite tribe in Makah, which was also known as Bakka. The Quraish had control of the economic, political and religion in Makkah. During this time there were many Arabs, which were divided into three groups Christians, Jews and Pagans. The Pagans around the Arab world worshiped idols, going to Makkah to visit the idols around the Kaba was important to them as it is important to Muslims today.

The Pagans would travel from all around the Arab world to come to visit the idols in Makkah. The Quraish had conditions for the people who wanted to do their pilgrimage in Makkah they were only allowed to do their pilgrimage if they bought an Ihram which were only sold buy the people of the Quraish or that they would have to go naked around the Kaba which many did in Sahih Muslim Ibn Abbas reported ‘Who would provide cloth to cover the one who is circumambulating the Kaba so that she would cover her private parts? And then she would say: Today will be exposed the whole or the part and what is exposed I shall not make it lawful.’ The Quraish controlled everything and no one could bring anything from outside of Makkah that was not sold by the Quraish.

The Quraish also made a lot of money by trading to Gulf States Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon and many more. In surah 106 verse 2 ‘That is the familiarity with the trips of winter and summer.’ The Quraish would travel to Syria and buy from there in the winter and then sell the products in Yemen during the summer, in which they would also buy from Yemen and sell to Syria. This is how the Quraish also made a lot of money; they would also sell idols to the people in Syria.

Although Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was brought up in the tribe of the Quraish and was known as Al Amin ‘they trustworthy’ when the Prophet invited his family members to tell them about the message given to him by the Almighty Allah (SWT) this is known as ‘Da’watul Asheer’ which is when the Prophet told his family members about the revelation that came form angel Jibrael (as). The Pagan people did not believe that the idols were god however the believed that these idols represented Allah. There were three important idols known as Banaat Allah which is the ‘daughters of Allah’ there was Lat, Uzza and Manaat. Although the Quraish knew that these idols were not Allah and that there was a supreme leader however they chose to ignore this, as this would affect their business. Being the most elite tribe in Makkah and having control over the wealth of the people that made them rich. By accepting the message of the Prophet would jeopardise their income and their trade as they would no longer be able to sell idols and less people would come to Makkah to do their pilgrimage and they would loose control over everything.

Also as Prophet Muhammad (SAW) would be the leader of the Muslims for the people who accepted Islam they would no longer listen of have no control or authority over the people who believed in Islam. The Quraish were set in their ways and did not want to change or have to find a new way of making money to stay elite and successful whereas Islam teaches that everyone is equal in Surah 3 verse 195 it says ‘ I do not allow the labour of any worker from among you, male or female, to go to waste. You are equal to one another.’ The Quraish did not like the idea of everyone being equal as there were slaves and the rich and they were not to be the same whereas Islam enforced that everyone was equal. In my opinion I believe that the Quraish rejected the message of Prophet (SAW) because it would destroy their system that they had built in order to be the elite tribes of Makkah and have control over the economy, political and religion of the people of Makkah.

Sources: Website- http://ahsannaqvi.com/?cat=2&paged=3 - Islamiat 2058 CIE & IGCSE- Ahsan Naqvi

Website- http://al-rasool.co.uk/ahlulbayt/HIE_3.pdf -Revelation and the Quraysh: why did they reject? - RSC youth Birmingham

Quran:
Surah Quraish verse 2
Surah Al-e-imran verse 195

Sahih Muslims- Book 43 number 7179