Relationship of the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬with Non-Muslims

Relationship of the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬with Quraish in Makkan’s Life

Question # 1(a)
❖ The Prophet’s ‫ ﷺ‬relationship with the Quraysh changed after he began to
receive revelations. Describe the differences in the way the Quraysh treated
him after this event. [10] (May/June 2018 12)
❖ Write about the changes in the relationship between the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬and the
Quraysh in the years between his marriage to Khadija and the death of Abu
Talib. (May/June 2015 11)
❖ Write about the Prophet Muhammad’s ‫ ﷺ‬interaction with the Quraysh while
he lived in Makkah, before and after revelation. (Oct/Nov 2011 11)

Good answers will be able to provide a detailed and concise narrative of events that
occurred between the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬and the Quraysh.
Candidates should talk about the Prophet’s ‫ ﷺ‬status in the community prior to him
becoming a prophet.
He was known as ‘Al-Amin’ or the trustworthy.
Candidates should mention, using examples, that prior to his prophethood, the
Quraysh used to consult him in important matters, trust him with their goods, and
look to him for advice.
For example, they could mention that when the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬was younger, he was
chosen by the Quraysh to settle the dispute of who should replace the sacred black
stone to its position at the Ka’ba.
Answers should also mention that after revelation, the Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬was
rejected when he invited the Quraysh to Islam, especially by his uncle Abu Lahab.
They still trusted him but did not want to believe in his message.
He was taunted, mocked and openly humiliated by different members of the
Quraysh.
The best answers will include details of events before the period of revelation and
after revelation.
Candidates should not mention only one or two events, such as the boycott, but give
a wider narrative of events before and after prophethood.
Details about the events themselves should be credited. Answers should write about the
Prophet’s ‫ ﷺ‬status in the community prior to Islam and after. A comparative approach
will likely score higher.

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(b) The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬did not change his character despite the way the Quraysh
changed towards him. What can Muslims learn from this? [4] (May/June 2018 12)
Some lessons could be that Muslims should know how to develop good character
traits and not change them, whatever the situation.
That when people are trying to make difficulties in your life, you should try your
best to keep good relations with them rather than reacting in a negative way with
them in return.
That God looks at what you do and will help you when you remain patient.
These are just some suggestions. Candidates can use others but try to explain their
answers and say why the answers they give are good lessons in life.
(b) Why is it significant that the Quraysh were still willing to keep their belongings
with the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬after he started to preach Islam? [4] (May/June 2015 11)
Candidates can offer a variety of answers, but they should try to explain their answers
with reasoning.
They could say that despite the message he was preaching, they still knew that his
character would not have changed because they had never found any discrepancies
in his character.
Despite not liking what the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬was saying they still valued their belongings
and wanted to keep them where they knew they would get them back.
The reasons the Quraysh changed were political and social, not because the
Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬had changed, or because they felt he was lying/spreading falsehood.
(b) Why did the Quraysh feel they needed to reject the Prophet’s ‫ ﷺ‬message? [4]
(Oct/Nov 2011 11)
Good answers here will be able to mention that the Quraysh had their own belief
system and that they worshipped many idols opposed to the Prophet Muhammad’s
‫ ﷺ‬message of monotheism.
By changing their ways, they faced losing their status and position as leaders and
keepers of the Ka’ba.
They also faced losing income, felt threatened by the Prophet’s ‫ ﷺ‬influence upon
the youth of Makkah, and his growing support.
This should not just be a description of the reasons; candidates should include evaluation.

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Question # 2 (a)

❖ The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬was mistreated by the Makkans after preaching the message of
Islam. Write an account of the difficulties he faced. [10] (Oct/Nov 2020 12)
❖ The Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﷺ‬brought the message of Islam to Makkah. Describe
the ways the main clans treated him after hearing his message.
(Oct/Nov 2018 11)
Candidates should write a detailed account of the difficulties faced by the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬
himself.
Candidates could give a brief description of the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬beginning to preach
openly after years of secret worship, inviting his kinsmen of Banu Hashim to
Islam but getting a cold response from them to his call.
When Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬beginning to preach openly after years of secret worship and
announced his faith to the Quraysh on mount Safa, they rejected his call to Islam,
and subsequently went on to mock and torture the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬.
Abu Lahab, in particular, spoke harshly and subsequently went on to mock and
torture the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬. He was called a mad man, or possessed by jinn [15.6,
68.51];
Abu Lahab forced his two sons to divorce the Prophet’s daughters Ruqayya and
Umm Kulthum.
They laughed and mocked him after his son’s death, calling him ‘abtar’, cut off
and when there was a break in revelations.
Gradually as Islam started spreading, leaders of different tribes such as Banu
Makhzum escalated the persecution against Prophet.
Abu Jahal was the most prominent Makkan who committed many atrocities
against the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬on several occasions including physically attacking and
inciting others to do the same.
Abu Jahl had the fetus of a she-camel placed on the Prophet’s ‫ ﷺ‬back while he
was praying at the Ka’ba, which was removed by Fatima.
Rubbish and thorny bushes were thrown at him/in his path. His followers were
also persecuted which hurt the Prophet too.
The Prophet ‫ﷺ‬, his followers and clans were boycotted and were not allowed
business dealings or social contact with the Makkans; they stayed in Shib-e-Abi
Talib for three years, where they had little food or water.
Some candidates might also refer to the pressure put on Abu Talib to withdraw
support of the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬and the bribery offer made by the Quraysh and when all
failed, planned to assassinate the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬which eventually led to his migration.

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(b) How can the Prophet’s ‫ ﷺ‬response to opposition help Muslims when they are
mistreated? [4] (Oct/Nov 2020 12)
Candidates could say that they can take from the Prophet’s ‫ ﷺ‬response that they
should be patient and kind, and not retaliate to other people’s behavior.
That in their everyday lives they may be mocked or bullied for different reasons,
but they should try to remain patient.
Showing perseverance and steadfastness with a strong belief in God’s help, in the
face of any hardship, is another way Muslims can respond.
Better answers will give specific examples of lessons Muslims can take in certain
circumstances.
(b) Why did the Quraysh fear the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬and his message even though he was
not violent or aggressive towards them? [4] (Oct/Nov 2018 11)
They feared him because they knew he was honest and trustworthy and so he
already had a good standing with people, therefore they were more likely to
believe him.
They also feared that he was just and treated people the same, and they did not
want to have the same status as slaves/women/children.
They feared his message as it meant believing in one God and not the many idols
of the Ka’ba, which meant they may have lost their source of income.

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Relationship of the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬with non-Muslims in Madani Life
Question # 3(a)

❖ Write about the way in which the Prophet interacted with non-Muslims after
his move to Madina. [10] (Oct/Nov2016 11)
❖ Write about the Prophet Muhammad’s ‫ ﷺ‬interaction with non-Muslims in
Madina. (May/June 2013 41)

Candidates should only write about the Prophet’s ‫ ﷺ‬interaction with non-Muslims
once he had migrated to Madina, and not write about events before this time.
Candidates could write about how the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬made a Constitution for the
citizens of Madina, including non-Muslims, about their rights and responsibilities as
part of the community.
The non-Muslims had the following rights:
i. Equal political and cultural rights,
ii. Autonomy and freedom of religion;
iii. They would fight with the Muslims against the enemy of the community and
have the same responsibilities in war as others.

The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬was always fair in his dealings with the non-Muslims, e.g., when a
Muslim and non-Muslim were having a dispute, the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬sided with the non-
Muslim as it was the just thing to do.
Candidates could also talk about the various Jewish tribes, and how their
relationships developed with the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬over time, as well as his relationship
with the hypocrites in Madina.
The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬engaged in commercial dealings with them and gave and received
help from them.
He sometimes borrowed money from Jews and also arranged for loans from them
for some of his companions: one day a Jew caught hold of the cloth the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬
was wearing and demanded that he repay the loan he had taken from him. ‘Umar,
got angry with the Jew and scolded him. The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬then ordered that the loan
be repaid to the Jew, and because ‘Umar had scolded him the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬insisted that
he be given more money than what he had actually been owed.
Not everyone was happy with the Prophet’s ‫ ﷺ‬leadership of Madina and individuals
from among the non-Muslim clans plotted to take the Prophet’s ‫ ﷺ‬life.
Two of the tribes – the Banu Nadir and the Banu Qaynuqa - were eventually exiled
for breaking the treaty and for the consequent danger they posed to the new Muslim
community.

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 The Banu Qurayza also broke their treaty by siding with the Quraysh at the Battle of
the Trench.
They were dealt with in accordance to their own laws, which meant that many of
them were put to death.
Candidates could also mention that the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬sent letters to various non-Muslim
rulers inviting them to Islam.
The Christians of Najran visited the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬in Madina to talk to him and ask
questions.
They then signed a peace treaty. The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬allowed them to pray their prayers
in the mosque.
Candidates could also talk about his treatment of non-Muslims at the Conquest of
Makkah but this should not take up the bulk of the answer.
(b) How can Muslims now apply the lessons learnt from the Prophet’s ‫ ﷺ‬interaction
with non-Muslims? [4] (Oct/Nov2016 11)
(b) What can Muslims learn from this interaction? (May/June 2013 41)
(b) How can these examples help Muslims today in their relationships with non-
Muslims? (Oct/Nov 2009 01)
Candidates should show some reflection on the situations they have described in part (a)
and relate them to their own personal relationships with non-Muslims, or the relationship
of Muslims in general with non-Muslims.

They could talk about the moral significance of the Prophet’s ‫ ﷺ‬actions and this should
be used to highlight Muslim conduct. A clear parallel should be drawn between the
Prophet’s ‫ ﷺ‬example and related situations, and specific examples given.
Non-Muslims were respected by the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬and invited to Islam.
If they did not accept it, they were left to live their lives freely under their own faith.
Muslims now can learn from this by inviting non-Muslims to Islam by teaching
them about the essentials of faith.
If they do not want to accept Islam then they should not be harassed or hurt, but
rather respected and looked after.
Muslims who kill people from other faiths because they do not believe in Islam, are
going against the example of the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬.
Muslims should also enter into agreements with non-Muslims to ensure both sides
live amicably and do not have their freedoms taken away by the other side.
This allows both parties to know where they stand and do not have to live in fear.
Candidates can offer their own examples, and valid answers should be credited.

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Treatment of the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬with non-Muslims
Question # 4
(a) Describe two events from the life of the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬that illustrate the way he
treated non-Muslims. [10] (Oct/Nov 2009 01)
Candidates can choose any two events and give a full and concise description of them.
The point of the events should be underlined, as well as giving some reasons for the
prophet’s ‫ ﷺ‬conduct. Some events which candidates could talk about (though not the
only ones) are:
His treatment of non-Muslims during the early persecution of Muslims in Makkah;
how he was taunted and had things thrown at him, and how he reacted
The story of the prophet going to Al-Ta’if; how they reacted to his message and
how the prophet reacted to them
The conquest of Makkah; his treatment of his non-Muslim enemies
His relationship with non-Muslims when they migrated to Madina; how he made
treaties with the Jewish tribes and his interaction with them.
There may be other relevant events that the candidates choose, which should be credited
if they give a detailed description of them.

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