View source for Mushrikites

{{Short description|7th-century Arab polytheists who fought early Muslims}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2023}}
{{Islam}}
The '''Mushrikites''' ({{Langx|ar|الْمُشْرِكِين|translit=al-Mushrikīn}} or {{Langx|ar|الْمُشْرِكُون|translit=al-Mushrikūn}}, singular {{langx|ar|مُشْرِك|translit=mushrik}}) were the Arab polytheists that opposed the Islamic prophet [[Muhammad in Islam|Muhammad]] and his followers, the [[early Muslims|Muslims]], in the early 7th century. Their leaders were mostly from the [[Quraysh]], but others also belonged to the [[Qays]].

After Muhammad's declaration of prophethood, the Mushrikites harassed members of the nascent Muslim community and were led by [[Amr ibn Hisham]] ("Abu Jahl"). Following the increase of tensions between the Mushrik and the Muslims, Muhammad and his companions ({{Transliteration|ar|ṣaḥāba}}) migrated to the neighboring city of [[Medina]], where the Islamic prophet was offered sovereignty over the city. An Islamic state was formed in Medina, which received vehement opposition from the Mushrikites, and subsequently, both parties fought at the [[Battle of Badr]] in 624, resulting in a defeat.

== Etymology ==
The word Mushrikites is the English term derived from the Arabic {{Transliteration|ar|Mushrikūn}}, which itself is derived from {{Transliteration|ar|[[Shirk (Islam)|shirk]]}}.<ref name="Quran 4 U 9">{{cite web|author=Ibn Kathir|author-link=Ibn Kathir|title=Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Surah Al Tawbah|url=http://www.quran4u.com/Tafsir%20Ibn%20Kathir/009%20Taubah.htm|access-date=11 March 2020|work=Quran 4 U|publisher=[[Tafsir]]}}</ref>{{rp|9:1–15}} The term is sometimes translated as 'polytheists' as well. The Meccan polytheists who opposed Islam, were initially the ones to be referred to as the Mushrikites.{{Sfn|Na'im|2009|p=62}}

== References ==
<references />

== Bibliography ==

* {{The History of al-Tabari|volume=10|url={{Google Books||plainurl=y}}}}
* {{EI2|article=Abū Sufyān|last=Watt|first=W. Montgomery|authorlink=W. Montgomery Watt|volume=1|page=151}}
* {{cite book |last1=Watt |first1=Montgomery William |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zLN2hNidLw4C |title=Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman |date=1961 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780198810780 |location=London |author-link=W. Montgomery Watt}}

[[Category:Islamic terminology]]