Polytheists and non-recognition of Islam The polytheists' stance towards Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is indisputable. Though the prophet Muhammad for long years showed complete state of peacefulness to them, they totally refused to recognize him, rather; their encroachment upon the prophet and his companions written down in tens and hundreds of compilations and books.

Also, when Prophet Muhammad migrated to Medina, he dealt with the polytheists there so leniently and it never happened that he compelled any of them to embrace Islam, however; he used to deal them gently while they kept turning away from him.

To exemplify, Imam Al-Bukhari narrated on the autority of Usama[1] ibn Zayd who said: (The Prophet rode a donkey having a saddle with a Fadakiyya velvet covering. He mounted me behind him and went to visit Sa`d bin 'Ubada, and that had been before the battle of Badr. The Prophet proceeded till he passed by a gathering in which `Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul was present, and that had been before `Abdullah embraced Islam. The gathering comprised of Muslims, polytheists, i.e., isolators and Jews. `Abdullah bin Rawaha was also present in that gathering. When dust raised by the donkey covered the gathering, `Abdullah bin Ubai covered his nose with his upper garment and said, "Do not trouble us with dust." The Prophet greeted them, stopped and dismounted. Then he invited them to Allah (i.e., to embrace Islam) and recited to them some verses of the Holy Qur'an. On that, `Abdullah bin Ubai said, "O man! There is nothing better than what you say if it is true. Do not trouble us with it in our gathering, but return to your house, and if somebody comes to you, teach him there." On that `Abdullah bin Rawaha said, Yes, O Allah's Apostle! Bring your teachings to our gathering, for we love that." So the Muslims, the pagans and the Jews started abusing each other till they were about to fight. The Prophet kept on quietening them till they became calm. Thereupon the Prophet mounted his animal and proceeded till he entered upon Sa`d bin Ubada. He said to him "O Sa`d! Have you not heard what Abu Hubab (i.e., `Abdullah bin Ubai) said?" Sa`d said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Excuse and forgive him, for Allah has given you what He has given you. The people of this town (Medina decided unanimously to crown him and make him their chief by placing a turban on his head, but when that was prevented by the Truth which Allah had given you he (`Abdullah bin Ubai) was grieved out of jealously, and that was the reason which caused him to behave in the way you have seen. Upon that, the prophet forgave him[2]"

Recognizing the other

After identifying the positive attitudes of the prophet Muhammad and the negative ones of the other party, shall it become possible to claim that Muslims do not recognize the other?!

Recognizing the other is fundamental in the creed of Muslims that they in no way compel others to embrace Islam. Muslims just hope that non-Muslims read about Islam from its authentic references before they groundlessly issue their judgments against Islam.

Above all, did the prophet Muhammad restrict his dealing with non-Muslims to only recognition?!

Indeed, the prophet went beyond that stage.

In the course of the following articles, I will pinpoint some examples of how the prophet Muhammad recognized the other, in addition to showing respect and acknowledging their standing.

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