Salman ibn Fahd al-'Awdah
This is truly a thing designed against you
QURAYSH CHALLENGED THE Prophet Muhammad as to the aims of his Call. They claimed that he was motivated by personal ambition: And the leaders among them go away impatiently saying, “walk away and remain constant to your gods! For this is truly a thing designed against you.” (Surah Sad: 6) This Qur’anic verse confirms that the Qurayshi leadership and nobility encouraged each other to be patient and steadfast in their pagan religion because, as they claimed, Muhammad wanted to become their ruler, and it had nothing to do with the Call to Allah.
On this basis and within this framework, they fabricated their claims and lies against the holy Prophet . They lied to themselves in order to deceive the simple people, despite their strong conviction that Prophet Muhammad was uninterested in the worldly gains that they accused him of aspiring to. Indeed, it must be recalled that the Makkans had approached the Prophet and said to him: “If in fact you desire to become a king then we shall make you a king, if on the other hand it is wealth that you seek we shall provide wealth until you become the richest amongst us. And, if it is a wife that you seek we shall choose for you the prettiest girl in all Makkah and marry her to you.” When they had completed their earthly offers the Prophet recited to them some verse from the Qur’an. Having witnessed his unswerving patience and determination to propagate his Call, Quraysh decided to fabricate accusations against the Prophet even though they were amongst whose who were convinced of his innocence.
In an earlier age, Pharaoh and his followers had said about Musa : Have you come to us to turn us away from the ways we found our forefathers following – in order that you and your brother may have greatness in the land? But we shall not believe in you. (Surah Yunus: 78) Glory be to Allah! How amazing? Is it the same Pharaoh who had risen to the highest levels of rebellion, arrogance, and despotism; the same Pharaoh who said: I do not know of any other god for you except myself (Surah Al-Qasas: 38). It was he, the Pharaoh, who plundered the wealth and possessions of his people, who seduced their daughters in order to satisfy his carnal desires, who killed the sons of the Children of Israel and preserved the lives of their women folk, who enslaved his own people and abused them.
Yes, it was this Pharaoh who employed every method to subject the humiliate others; it was he whom we found when Musa and Harun came to lead the people from the darkness of his repression to the light of obedience to Allah and monotheistic worship, we found that it was he who proclaimed: Have you come to us to turn us away from the ways we found our forefathers following – in order that you and your brother may have greatness in the land? But we shall not believe in you. (Surah Yunus: 78).
Of course, the reaction of this despot to the Call of Musa was inexplicable in light of the
imminent danger. But the, perhaps, even more disturbing was the attitude of his misguided people who believed him, obeyed him, and followed him in all that he said and ordered. Such was the mentality of his soldiers who opposed and fought against Musa, pursuing him all the way to the sea. Where were the minds of these people and where was their humanity? Truly, Pharaoh had debased them and so they obeyed him, and surely they were a people steeped in wrongdoing.
Accordingly, we find that throughout human history those who opposed the Prophets, sowed seeds of doubt among the people concerning their intentions and the purposes of their Call. They did this not only so that the people would turn their backs on the divine messages, but also in order that authority and supremacy in the earth would remain with them. Nothing is said to you (O Muhammad) except what was said to the Messengers before you. (Surah Fussilat: 43) Have they (the people of the past) transmitted this saying to these (Quraysh pagans)? No, they are themselves a people transgressing beyond bounds (in disbelief) (Surah Al-Dhariyat: 53)
