Mushrikun

Mushrikun (Arabic: المشركون, romanized: al-Mushrikūn or المشركين, al-Mushrikīn, singular مشرك, mushrik) is the term used in the Quran to refer to the non-Muslim Arabs who opposed the prophet Muhammad and his followers in the early 7th century. The term, which is related to the noun shirk, may be translated as "associators", as in "those who associate [with Allah]" and "make [equal] with Allah another deity". It is often translated into English as "polytheists", although some scholars believe the mushrikun criticized in the Quran were in fact monotheists or henotheists.

After Muhammad's declaration of prophethood, the mushrikun harassed members of the nascent Muslim community and were led by Amr ibn Hisham. Following the increase of tensions between the Mushrikites and the Muslims, Muhammad and his companions (sahaba) 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.