Who opposed the Prophet?
From an Islamic point of view, the goal of enmities is opposition to these basic guidelines which are valuable for human life. Those who are opposed to justice, those who are opposed to peace, security and tranquility and those who are opposed to purity and the spirit of human warmth and transcendence are against the Holy Prophet's (s.w.a.) invitation. It is for the sake of justice that Allah the Exalted has described jihad as an obligation. And this is not particular to Islam. Jihad has existed in all divine religions.
Those people who are opposed to the tranquility and transcendence of society and those who are enemies of humanity's interests are against this invitation. This is the point which Islam aims at. From the beginning of the be'that of the Holy Prophet of Islam (s.w.a.), he established clear guidelines on the basis of the ayahs which were sent down to him through divine revelation.
In the blessed Sura al-Alaq whose first ayahs are apparently the first ayahs sent down to the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) - the other ayahs in this sura were sent down to him over time - God says:
"Let him beware. If he desist not, We will drag him by the forelock,
a lying, sinful forelock.
Then, let him call for help to his council of comrades.
We too will call on the angels of punishment to deal with him" [The Holy Quran, 96: 15-18].
Those who stand up against the invitation to mercy, dignity, tranquility and security are threatened in the first sura [revealed] of the Holy Quran.
Another example is Sura al-Muddathir which is also one of the first suras which were sent down to the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.). In this sura, there is an in-depth discussion about those elements which disrupt people's lives:
"Leave Me alone, with the creature whom I created alone.
To whom I granted resources in abundance, And sons to be by his side. To whom I made life smooth and comfortable.
Yet is he greedy that I should add yet more.
By no means! For to Our Signs he has been disobedient.
Soon I will make a distressing punishment overtake him" [The Holy Quran, 74: 11-17].
In these ayahs, it is pointed out that those who are opposed to the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.), to humanity's best interests and to the path of truth will face this great divine opposition. Therefore, jihad exists in Islam. But this jihad is against those who are opposed to people's tranquility, justice and happiness. When you look at the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet's (s.w.a.) Sunnah, you will see that since the day Islamic government was established, there were certain non-Muslims who lived a secure and peaceful life in the shade of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.).
The Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) reached an agreement with the Jews who lived in Madina so that they could live a peaceful life in the shade of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.). However, they conspired against him and they opposed and betrayed him. They stabbed him in the back. Therefore, the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) stood up against them. If the Jews of Madina had not opposed him, if they had not shown hostility and if they had not betrayed the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.), perhaps the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) would never have confronted them. Therefore, the Islamic invitation is a spiritual and reasonable invitation. This invitation means presenting an enlightened and happy lifestyle to human beings.
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