The Slanderers of the Past?

By Harun Yahya

Prologue: Two main characteristics of the unbelievers: First, these people are among the economic elite of their society, and second, their transgression causes them to deny the messengers. They would oppose those who bring them the truth, namely, Allah’s religion and the good morality it offers to people, because they fear that if this morality becomes widespread, they will lose their wealth, which they guard so greedily.


In every era, Allah has sent messengers to warn their people of the Day of Judgment and the existence of Hell and Paradise. Allah reveals this reality:

“We have sent you with the truth bringing good news and giving warning. There is no community to which a warner has not come.” (Surah Fatir, 35:24)

Allah reveals that only a few people believed these messengers and followed their path, whereas the great majority chose to deny their message and so became their sworn enemies. As we read in the Qur’an:

“… But those who believed with him were only few.” (Surah Hud,11: 40)

“Or is it that they do not recognize their messenger and therefore do not acknowledge him? Or do they say: “He is a man possessed,” when he has brought the truth to them? But most of them hate the truth.” (Surah al-Mu’minun, 23:69-70)

Allah also informs us that it is usually the affluent elite who stir up opposition against the messengers. Some of the following verses make this clear:

“Similarly, We never sent any warner before you to any city without the affluent among them saying: ‘We found our fathers following a religion, and we are simply following in their footsteps’.” (Surah az-Zukhruf, 43:23)

“We never sent a warner into any city without the affluent people in it saying: ‘We reject what you have been sent with.’ ” (Surah Saba’, 34; 34)

These verses draw our attention to two main characteristics of the unbelievers: First, these people are among the economic elite of their society, and second, their transgression causes them to deny the messengers. They oppose those who bring them the truth, namely, Allah’s religion and the good morality it offers to people, because they fear that if this morality becomes widespread, they will lose their income, which they guard so greedily.

Despite their greed, however, Allah’s messengers did not refrain from telling them and all other people that this world is a temporary and delusive abode; that what really matters is the life after death; and that earning the Hereafter does not depend on money, property or other worldly goods, but on one’s morality and fear of Allah. Proclaiming this truth angers these people and causes them to become hostile toward the believers, as they are told that everything that they value and desire is, in reality, worth nothing. Allah reveals these people’s lust for the world:

“These people love this fleeting world, and have put the thought of a Momentous Day behind their backs”. (Surah al-Insan, 76:27)

This love gives us an idea as to why the affluent are usually unbelievers. Since they believe that they have power, status, wealth, or fame in their own right, and do not believe in Allah’s prescribed limits, they think that they can do whatever they want to and will not suffer any consequences. The Qur’an’s morality, on the other hand, reveals the flaws inherent in their way of life, beliefs, and values of right and wrong, and selfish desires. Consequently, they do whatever they can to prevent the practice of this morality.

The unbelievers’ false belief system and their great anger toward those who point out their errors are described in the Qur’an as follows:

“... They love what causes you distress. Hatred has appeared out of their mouths, but what their breasts hide is far worse. We have made the signs clear to you, if you use your intellect. There you are, loving them when they do not love you, even though you believe in all the Books. When they meet you, they say: “We believe.” But when they leave, they bite their fingers out of rage against you. Say: “Die in your rage.” Allah knows what your hearts contain.” (Surah Al ‘Imran, 3:118-119)

As the above verses reveal, unbelievers try every possible way to harm believers, to destroy or incapacitate them. As we stated earlier, slander and plotting against them are the most frequently applied methods used to achieve such aims.

Unbelievers want everyone to stray from the righteous path, just as they have. For this reason, and to prevent people from being influenced by and complying with the believers’ message, they try to belittle believers. However, believers remain steadfast in Allah’s religion and thus do, say, or believe nothing that will disgrace them. They do not transgress the limits that Allah has established for them, and always maintain their good character and decent conduct. Aware of this, unbelievers can only try to achieve their goals through slander, lies, and deceit. They come together, conspire against believers, decide how to slander them, and, in order to disseminate their lies, delegate specific tasks to each member in the conviction that they can discredit believers in the eyes of the people. But they will never succeed. Allah informs believers of these people:

“And likewise, in every city We set up its greatest wrongdoers to plot in it. They plot against themselves alone, but they are not aware of it.” (Surah al-An‘am, 6:123)

The Qur’an reveals some of the slanders that the messengers and Muslims have had to endure. It is important to remember these events and their consequences, if one truly wants to understand that the unbelievers have never – and never will – achieve their goal. It will also help to motivate sincere and honest people who are slandered to see that other Muslims have had similar experiences.

Slanders against Earlier Believers

There is great wisdom in the fact that the Qur’an relates details of the lives of past messengers and Muslims. Allah reveals this fact: “There is instruction in their stories for people of intelligence” (Surah Yusuf, 12:111). Past experiences are revealed so that people coming later may ponder and learn from them.

For instance, Allah has given many examples of how messengers and Muslims have dealt with slander. Therefore, Muslims who read these accounts should not be surprised when they are confronted with similar accusations. They will not suspect their fellow Muslims; rather, they will evaluate the unfolding events and the verbal and physical attacks according to the Qur’an’s criteria. Just as the messengers of Allah and earlier Muslims responded to them with patience and restraint, they also will understand that they must show the same degree of tolerance, and reliance upon Allah.

In addition, it is a source of zeal and excitement to see that Muslims have always been accused by unbelievers with the same mentality and words, because Allah promises: “You will not find any alteration in Allah’s pattern” (Surat al-Ahzab, 33: 62). That past events recur in the particular believer’s own time confirms Allah’s word and signals the sincerity of those Muslims who are thus confronted. However, the important point here is that Muslims show the same superior character as did the messengers and other devout believers.

For these reasons, the coming pages will deal with the slanders that earlier Muslims faced and their measured, patient, trusting, tolerant, and rational manner of dealing with these personal attacks.

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