Religion:Mushrikun
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The Mushrikun (Arabic: مشركون, singular Arabic: مشرك) were the Arabian polytheists who opposed Muhammad and his Muslims in the early 7th century. They were worshippers of many idols. Their leaders were mostly from the Quraysh, but others also belonged to the Qays.
After Muhammad's declaration of prophethood, the Mushrikun harassed members of the nascent Muslim community and were led by Amr ibn Hisham (c. 570–624). Following the increase of tensions between the Mushrikun and the Muslims, Muhammad and his companions (ṣaḥāba) migrated to the neighboring city of Medina, where the Islamic prophet was offered sovereignty over the city. An Islamic state was formed in Medina, which received vehement opposition from the Mushrikun, and subsequently, both parties fought at the Battle of Badr in 624, resulting in a defeat.
Etymology
The word Mušrikūn is derived from širk.[1]:9:1–15 The term is sometimes translated as 'polytheists' as well. The Meccan polytheists who opposed Islam, were the initially the ones to be referred to as the Mushrikun.[2]
History
Early opposition to the Muslims
Muhammad initially preached Islam privately, mainly among his near relatives and close acquaintances. In 613, the Islamic prophet began preaching publicly, which invited vehement opposition from the wealthy and leading clans of the Mushrikun, who feared the loss of their ancestral religion as well as their lucrative pilgrimage business. The sect harassed members of the nascent Muslim community, and often persecuted new converts. The Mushrikun assassinated numerous early Muslims, with the most prominent being Sumayya bint Khabbat and Yasir ibn Amir.[3]:145[4]:178[5]
Boycott of the Banu Hashim
As his followers increased, Muhammad might have become a threat to the Mushrikun rulers of the city, whose wealth rested largely upon the Kaaba, the focal point of the Mushrikun's religious life that they feared Muhammad to overthrow. The strong rich leaders of the Mushrikun persuaded Muhammad to abandon Islam as he was offered admission to the inner circle of merchants, and fairy Arabian women. Muhammad, however, refused both of these offers.[6]
In 616, the Mushrikun started a public, social and economical boycott of the Banu Hashim, Muhammad's clan.[7] According to Islamic tradition, the banishment was carried out in order to put pressure on Banu Hashim to withdraw its protection from Muhammad.[8]
Migration to Medina
Following Abu Talib's death in 619, the Mushrikun plotted to assassinate Muhammad. To escape persecution, Muhammad migrated to Medina, along with his close friend Abu Bakr. In Medina, the Islamic prophet united the Muslims by creating a bond of 'brotherhood' between the Ansar (lit. Helpers), natives of Medina, and the Muhajirun (lit. Emigrants), the natives of Mecca who migrated to Medina.
Battle of Badr
In early 624, Abu Sufyan ibn Harb led a trade caravan from Syria, returning to Mecca. Muhammad gathered a small expeditionary force of around 300 men to intercept the caravan. Abu Sufyan was informed of this plot by his spies, and he called for aid. In response, the Mushrikun dispatched an army of strong 1,000 men, led by Amr ibn Hisham.[9] In the ensuing confrontation, Abu Sufyan, "by skillful and vigorous leadership eluded the Muslims", according to the historian W. Montgomery Watt.[9] However, under Amr's command, the Mushrikun pursued a direct confrontation with the Muslims, which resulted in the Battle of Badr.
Though the Muslims were largely outnumbered, they nevertheless defeated the Mushrikun's forces and managed to kill Amr. Among other Mushrikun casualties were Utba ibn Rabiah, Umayya ibn Khalaf, Uqba ibn Abi Mu'ayt, and several other prominent members.[9]
Battle of Uhud
Following Amr ibn Hisham's death, Abu Sufyan was acknowledged the preeminent leader of the Mushrikun. The latter was exhorted to avenge the human and material losses suffered by them at Badr and vowed to conduct a retaliatory raid on Medina.[10] Abu Sufyan formed an army of 3,000 men, led by Amr ibn al-As, with the left and right flanks commanded by Ikrima ibn Amr and Khalid ibn al-Walid respectively.[11] Subsequently, Abu Sufyan inflicted significant losses on the Muslims at the Battle of Uhud in 625, but the Mushrikun were generally unsatisfied with the battle's results.[9]
Battle of the Trench
In December 626, Abu Sufyan led the attempted siege of Medina, but was defeated by the Muslim defenders at the Battle of the Trench, and his morale may have taken a blow at this failure.[9] The command of the Mushrikun forces was transferred to Safwan ibn Umayya, Ikrima ibn Abi Jahl and Suhayl ibn Amr.[9]
Islamic conquest of Mecca
In December 629 or January 630, the Muslims conquered Mecca and almost without bloodshed. Abu Sufyan, Ikrima, Safwan and Suhayl all converted to Islam and the Mushrikun ceased to exist.[12]:459[13]
Leaders
| No. | Name | Kunya | Tribe | Years | Nature of termination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amr ibn Hisham | Abu Jahl | Banu Makhzum | 610–624 | Beheaded in the Battle of Badr |
| 2 | Abd al-Uzza ibn Abd al-Muttalib | Abu Lahab | Banu Hashim | March 624 | Killed by Lubaba bint al-Harith |
| 3 | Sakhr ibn Harb | Abu Sufyan | Banu Abd Shams | 624–629 | Accepted Islam after the conquest of Mecca |
References
- ↑ Ibn Kathir. "Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Surah Al Tawbah". Quran 4 U. Tafsir. http://www.quran4u.com/Tafsir%20Ibn%20Kathir/009%20Taubah.htm.
- ↑ Na'im 2009, p. 62.
- ↑ Muhammad ibn Ishaq. Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by Guillaume, A. (1955). The Life of Muhammad. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN:0-19-636033-1
- ↑ Muhammad ibn Saad (2013), "Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir", in Translated by Bewley, A., The Companions of Badr, 3, London: Ta-Ha Publishers
- ↑ Muhammad ibn Saad (1995), "Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir", in Translated by Bewley, A., The Women of Madina, 8, London: Ta-Ha Publishers, pp. 185–186
- ↑ Watt 1977, p. 36.
- ↑ Ramadan 2007, p. 67.
- ↑ Peters 2003, p. 96.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Watt 1960, p. 151.
- ↑ Watt 1961, p. 132–135.
- ↑ Muir & Weir 1912, p. 258.
- ↑ Al-Mubarakpuri, Safi-ur-Rahman (2008). The Sealed Nectar(Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum). Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarrah, Saudi Arabia: Darussalam. p. 458. ISBN 9960899551. https://www.muslim-library.com/dl/books/English_ArRaheeq_AlMakhtum_THE_SEALED_NECTAR.pdf. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ↑ Donner 1993, p. 53, note 340.
Bibliography
- Template:The History of al-Tabari
- Muir, William; Weir, T. H. (1912). The Life of Mohammad. Edinburgh: John Grant. OCLC 5754953.
- Na'im, Abdullahi Ahmed (2009). Proselytization and Communal Self-Determination in Africa. Wipf and Stock Publishers. ISBN 9781606086711.
- Ramadan, Tariq (2007). In the Footsteps of the Prophet: Lessons from the Life of Muhammad. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195374766. https://books.google.com/books?id=dMUTDAAAQBAJ.
- Peters, Francis E. (2003). The Monotheists: Jews, Christians, and Muslims in Conflict and Competition. Princeton University Press.
- Watt (1960). "Abū Sufyān". in Gibb, H. A. R.. The Encyclopaedia of Islam, New Edition, Volume I: A–B. Leiden: E. J. Brill. p. 151. OCLC 495469456. https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/search?s.q=Ab%C5%AB+Sufy%C4%81n&s.f.s2_parent=s.f.book.encyclopaedia-of-islam-2&search-go=Search.
- Watt, Montgomery William (1961). Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman. London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780198810780. https://books.google.com/books?id=zLN2hNidLw4C.
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