Page 82 - Communication and Argument in the Qur'an

80 COMMUNICATION AND ARGUMENT IN THE QUR’AN

The unbelievers also form themselves into a kind of
movement. Perhaps they probably do this because they
are not strong or courageous enough to confront believers
on their own and therefore seek to increase their resolve.
For example, when the magicians joined together against
d

c
e
…
“

o
s
i
y

o
Musa (as), they said to one another: “… so decide on your r
u
n
e
o

d
i
e
r

h
o
t

t
e
g
n
.

”
.
.
e
f

o
c
r
a

n

d
e
h
c
s scheme and then arrive together in force ...” (Surah Ta Ha:
m
e
r
r
i
v
e
a
t
h
e

n
64). Prominent individuals also met together to plan how to
kill Musa (as).
3. Accusations against prophets and
messengers
One strategy used by a society’s ruling circle is to
reduce the communication’s effectiveness by leveling var-
ious accusations against these special men in an attempt
to shake the people’s faith and confidence in them. One
such accusation is that of being crazy, which is mentioned
in many verses of the Qur’an:
Those who do not believe all but strike you down with
their evil looks when they hear the Reminder and say:
“He is quite crazy.” (Surat al-Qalam: 51)
They say: “You, to whom the Reminder has been sent
down, are clearly crazy.” (Surat al-Hijr: 6)
He is nothing but a man possessed. So wait a while
and see what happens to him. (Surat al-Muminun: 25)
The ruling circle of those of his people who did not
believe said: “We consider you a fool and think you are
a liar.” (Surat al-A‘raf: 66)