Among the Quraish, those who fiercely opposed Islām, and were considered the leaders of others in this movement, were not entirely of the same disposition. Some possessed personal decency, and in their own way desired to deal in goodness. Others, however, on account of their haughtiness, could not accept obedience to the Holy Prophetsa and were also exasperated due to the notion that the religion of their forefathers was being destroyed by various so-called ‘vain idealists’. Among them, the following seem to stand out: Firstly, Muṭ‘im bin ‘Adiyy who was from the Banū Nawfal and was among the chieftains of the Quraish. Muṭ‘im was a staunch idolater but observed as much decency as possible in his affairs. As such, we shall see ahead that, in ending the boycott of the Quraish with the Holy Prophetsa, and in entering him to Makkah under his protection, when he returned from Ṭā’if, Muṭ‘im dealt with special goodness and courage. Second was Abul-Bakhtarī from the Banū Asad. Abul-Bakhtarī would also, to the best of his ability, hold fast to decency. In this same context, there was a man named Zubair bin Abī Umaiyyah who was the brother of Ummi Salamah and despite his disaccord, he would always deal in goodness.
The second category of people was of those whose opposition entailed an aspect of mischief. Among these, the following are most prominent: Firstly, ‘Utbah bin Rabī‘ah who was from the Banū ‘Abdi Shams and was very affluent and influential. In the Battle of Badr when ‘Utbah came before the Islāmic Army astride his red camel, upon seeing him, the Holy Prophetsa said, “If there is some goodness in this group, indeed, it is in the rider of this camel.” ‘Utbah’s brother Shaibah was also under his influence. Both of them were killed in the Battle of Badr at the hands of Ḥaḍrat Ḥamzahra and Ḥaḍrat ‘Alīra. Secondly, was Walīd bin Mughīrah, the father of Khālid bin Walīd, a great chieftain of the Quraish, to the extent that he was considered a father-figure by the Quraish. Coincidentally, three months after the Holy Prophet’ssa migration, he was spiked by an arrow and died. Thirdly, was ‘Āṣ bin Wā’il Sahmī, who was the father of ‘Amr bin Al-‘Āṣ. He was also very wealthy and influential. He died a very painful death, due to the swelling of his foot, two months after the Holy Prophet’ssa migration.
The state of the third category of people was completely different. These people were ones to oppose the Holy Prophetsa blindly and would employ all just and unjust means in their effort to obliterate Islām and the founder of Islām from the face of the earth and crushing the Muslims under their feet. Among the Quraish, it was these people who were in greatest force and number. Among them, the most notorious are: Firstly, ‘Amr bin Hishām from the Banū Makhzūm. This man is one who should be better referred to as the ‘Chief of the Enemies’. He possessed distinctive power among the Quraish and they referred to him as Abul-Ḥakam, or ‘The Father of Wisdom’, but the Muslims named him Abū Jahl1. He was cast to Hell by two youngsters of the Anṣār in the Battle of Badr. Secondly, was Abū Lahab bin ‘Abdul-Muṭṭalib who was from the Banū Hāshim and was the biological paternal uncle of the Holy Prophetsa. He was as antagonistic and injurious as Abū Jahl and he is also unique, in that among the enemies of Islām, only his name has been mentioned in the Holy Qur’ān so unambiguously. Abū Lahab perished some time after the Battle of Badr in Makkah. Thirdly, was ‘Uqbah bin Abī Mu‘īṭ from the Banū Umaiyyah, who was a wicked and malicious individual. He took part in the Battle of Badr and was killed. Then there was Umaiyyah bin Khalaf who was from the Banū Jamḥ. He was the like of Abū Jahl in mischief and enmity. He was killed in the Battle of Badr. Umaiyyah’s brother, Ubaiyy bin Khalaf was also a man of the same type. He was wounded by the Holy Prophetsa and met his fate during the Battle of Uhud. Then there was An-Naḍr bin Al-Ḥārith from the Banū ‘Abdid-Dār who inflicted grievous pains upon the Holy Prophetsa. He was made captive during the Battle of Badr and was killed in retribution of his crimes. Then, there was Aswad bin ‘Abdi Yagūth, Ḥārith bin Qais, Aswad bin Muṭṭalib, Abū Qais bin Fākhad, Munabbah bin Al-Ḥajjāj, Nubaiyyah bin Al-Ḥajjāj, Mālik bin Ṭalāṭilah, Ḥakam bin Abil-‘Āṣ, Rukānah bin Yazīd, etc., who, more or less, were a part of this villainy and enmity.2
In addition to these, there were many others who were also fierce in their enmity, but since they later became Muslim, to mention them in the above list is perhaps incorrect, albeit, as appropriate, they shall be mentioned ahead.
1 The Father of Ignorance (Publishers)
2 * Al-Kāmilu fit-Tārīkh, By Imām ‘Izz-ud-Din ibnil-Athīr, Volume 1, pp. 667-673, Bābu Dhikril-Mustahzi’īna wa man kāna Ashaddul-Adhā lin-Nabīsa, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Arabī, Beirut, First Edition (1998)
* Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Muḥammad bin ‘Abdul-Bāqī Az-Zarqānī, Volume 1, pp. 462-473, Bābu Dhikri Awwalu man Āmana billāhi wa Rasūlihi, Volume 1, pp. 462-473, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)