Page 16 - Slanders on Muslims in History

14 SLANDERS ON MUSLIMS IN HISTORY

Allah reveals that only a few people believed these mes-
sengers and followed their path, whereas the great majority
chose to deny their message and so opposed them. As we
read in the Qur'an:
… But those who believed with him were only few.
(Surah Hud, 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. (Surat al-
Mu’minun, 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 fol-
lowing in their footsteps.” (Surat az-Zukhruf, 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)
These verses draw our attention to two main character-
istics of the unbelievers: First, these people are among the
economic elite of their society, and second, their transgres-
sion 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.