Examinating How Divine Prophets deal With Their Opponents، Delving into Quranic Stories

Almighty God sent the messengers with his missions. Some tribes believed and others opposed their prophets. Prophets used to face their opposing tribes; because the prophet must have the ability to face the opponents of his prophecy and be able to convince them or invalidate their denial and complete the argument against them by proving the truth of his prophet hood claims. The purpose of sending all the prophets is the same: “calling to monotheism”. In the Quranic stories, it is mentioned about the opponents of the prophets who did not believe in them and denied their messages and prophet hood. These opponents are, in fact, the enemies of the prophets, which include: Iblis, disbelievers, disobedient, criminal liars, sly and cunning people, oppressors, polytheists, doubters, corruptors, wrongdoers, misguided, ignorant and arrogant. Among other opponents and enemies of the Prophets, we can mention the tyrants, deniers, miscreants and slanderers. Many evidences point to the existence of opponents of divine prophets. Opponents to various types of punishment; like a storm, drowning, wrath, torment and curse and defeat of God against the opponents, heavenly cry and   sinking into the earth, they were caught and condemned.

One of the methods of confronting the prophets with their opponents was the verbal method through discourse and conversation, as well as advice and benevolence. Prophets also had a rational confrontation with their opponents; this type of confrontation has been expressed in the form of reasoning and learning, as well as preaching. Prophets also faced their opponents with a conscience. Among the methods of this confrontation, there was the method of encouragement and intimidation and reminding of blessings. Prophets used to send their words to the opponents by speaking and talking with them and also by benevolence towards them. When they addressed their opponents, they used arguments and protests to make them understand the truth of God Almighty. Prophets have used reasoning to convince others. They have asked their opponents to look at things and events with open eyes and learn from them. Among the effective methods of the prophets was the effective method of “preaching”. The opposite point of intellectual confrontation – which tries to influence thinking and thought – is conscientious confrontation. In confronting the conscience of their opponents, the Prophets (peace be upon them) have taken help from various methods, including warning along with encouragement and sometimes reminding of countless divine blessings.