Why did the leaders of Mecca begin persecuting Muhammad and his followers?

Answer 1

While the Muslims lived in Mecca, the Muslims adamantly demanded that the population abandon their henotheistic and polytheistic religions and openly threatened to destroy their idols as God had told him to do. Understandably, this angered the Meccans greatly because their religions were special to them and they took to violently beating Mohammed and the Muslims to prevent them from destroying their sacred objects.

Once Mohammed and the Muslims left Mecca, Meccans no longer feared these negative outcomes and had little reason to continue to care about a small minority like the Muslims. However, while in Medina, Mohammed coordinated numerous raids on caravan shipments that were lightly armed and not antagonistic. At the time, Mohammed and the Muslims needed supplies in Medina and did not have the funds to buy such supplies on the open market. As a result, he resorted to violence to achieve his objectives. This persistent action (of violently attacking merchants trafficking through Arabia) caught the attention of the Meccans whose commerce he was ruining. This resulted in the Ghawazat (غوزات) or Skirmishes between Meccans and Medinans.

Answer 2

The Makkans had grown rich and wealthy upon the ideas of paganism and numerous gods. Every year pilgrims would come to the Ka'abah to pay homage to their gods, expensive gifts were also given to the keepers of the Kaabah, the Makkans. Through this, the path was made a trade route, which benefited many Makkans. The idea Muhammad (PBUH) brought was that of one God. If he was to thrive then the Ka'abah would cease to be of any importance to anyone. This would rupture their business.

Another factor was that the Makkans respected the beliefs of their ancestors and held them high in regard, any change or opposition to their beliefs or rituals angered them. This was what Muhammad (PBUH) did, awakening hostility towards him.

Answer 3

Perhaps, the question refers to the early period of the advent of Islam. For first three years of his Prophet-hood, Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) preached the message of Almighty Allah secretly. Then he was Ordained by Almighty Allah to preach His message openly. The leaders of Mecca turned severely against him when he started speaking against the so called gods and idols they used to worship. Ultimately, the Muslims had to migrate to Madina Munawra. The answer by Mr. Prioktan is more comprehensive and factual.

Answer 4

Abu Sufyan and the Meccans did not oppose Muhammad arbitrarily. They had specific grievances, which included:

Preserving Religious Plurality: Abu Sufyan opposed Mohammed because the religious plurality permitted in Mecca was critical for maintaining Mecca's important position along the Arabian trade routes. It was on account of the fact that Mecca was holy site for all Arabian faiths that spared it from internal conflict and allowed the flourishing of commerce in the city. Mohammed made clear that he intended to purge the idols from the Kaaba which would cause mass uproar and ended Mecca's position as a holy site for all Arabians.

Of course, what Abu Sufyan did not take into account is that nearly all Arabians would convert to Islam after the fall of Mecca.

Keeping His Own Power: Abu Sufyan was one of the Chief Leaders of the Qoreish Tribe and one of the most powerful men in all of Arabia. Should Mecca fall to the Muslims, he would certainly lose substantial power. Many Muslims hold that he was corrupt as well, meaning that he stood to face criminal acts if he were subject to Mohammed's authority.

Protecting Commerce: During Mohammed's Medinan Period, Mohammed organized and executed numerous raids on caravans heading to and leaving from Mecca, causing disruption to Arabian trade routes. Since Abu Sufyan was in an important position in Mecca, this was something he would be expected to ameliorate.

Polytheism: It was likely that Abu Sufyan was fighting in defense of Arabian henotheist religion to which he ascribed against Mohammed who would demand that he abandon all gods but Allah.

Answer 5

Abu Sufyan and the Meccans did not oppose Muhammad arbitrarily. They had specific grievances, which included:

Preserving Religious Plurality: Abu Sufyan opposed Muhammad because the religious plurality permitted in Mecca was critical for maintaining Mecca's important position along the Arabian trade routes. It was on account of the fact that Mecca was holy site for all Arabian faiths that spared it from internal conflict and allowed the flourishing of commerce in the city. Mohammed made clear that he intended to purge the idols from the Kaaba which would cause mass uproar and end Mecca's position as a holy site for all Arabians.

Of course, what Abu Sufyan did not take into account is that nearly all Arabians would convert to Islam after the fall of Mecca.

Keeping Their Own Power: Abu Sufyan was one of the Chief Leaders of the Qoreish Tribe and one of the most powerful men in all of Arabia. Should Mecca fall to the Muslims, he and other Qoreishis would certainly lose substantial power. Many Muslims hold that they were corrupt as well, meaning that they stood to face criminal acts if they were subject to Muhammad's authority.

Protecting Commerce: During Mohammed's Medinan Period, Muhammad organized and executed numerous raids on caravans heading to and leaving from Mecca, causing disruption to Arabian trade routes. Since Abu Sufyan was in an important position in Mecca, this was something he would be expected to ameliorate.

Polytheism: It was likely that Abu Sufyan was fighting in defense of Arabian henotheist religion to which he ascribed against Muhammad who would demand that he abandon all gods but Allah.

Answer 6

Abu Sufyan and the Meccans did not oppose Muhammad arbitrarily. They had specific grievances, which included:

Preserving Religious Plurality: Abu Sufyan opposed Muhammad because the religious plurality permitted in Mecca was critical for maintaining Mecca's important position along the Arabian trade routes. It was on account of the fact that Mecca was holy site for all Arabian faiths that spared it from internal conflict and allowed the flourishing of commerce in the city. Muhammad made clear that he intended to purge the idols from the Kaaba which would cause mass uproar and ended Mecca's position as a holy site for all Arabians.

Of course, what Abu Sufyan did not take into account is that nearly all Arabians would convert to Islam after the fall of Mecca.

Keeping His Own Power: Abu Sufyan was one of the Chief Leaders of the Qoreish Tribe and one of the most powerful men in all of Arabia. Should Mecca fall to the Muslims, he would certainly lose substantial power. Many Muslims hold that he was corrupt as well, meaning that he stood to face criminal acts if he were subject to Muhammad's authority.

Protecting Commerce: During Muhammad's Medinan Period, Mohammed organized and executed numerous raids on caravans heading to and leaving from Mecca, causing disruption to Arabian trade routes. Since Abu Sufyan was in an important position in Mecca, this was something he would be expected to ameliorate.

Polytheism: It was likely that Abu Sufyan was fighting in defense of Arabian henotheist religion to which he ascribed against Muhammad who would demand that he abandon all gods but Allah.