Orang-orang non-Muslim menyadari kekuatan dan kekuasaan kaum Muslimin dalam waktu yang singkat. Mereka menyadari bahwa kekuatan itu berakar kuat pada hati yang tidak pernah kekurangan pengorbanan di jalan Islam, hati yang tabah menanggung segala macam penderitaan dan penganiayaan, hati yang selalu siap mengorbankan nyawanya sendiri demi Islam. Di sana, di Madinah, mereka menikmati agama mereka dan melaksanakan aturan-aturannya, agama yang setiap hari mencapai tingkat yang baru, dengan kaum Muslimin merasakan ketenangan dan kebahagiaan yang sejati.

The non-Muslims became aware of the strength and power of the Muslims within a short period of time. They realized that their strength was deeply rooted in hearts never short of sacrifice in the way of Islam, hearts that endured all types of pain and persecution, hearts that were always ready to give up life itself for Islam. There they were in Madinah enjoying their Deen and implementing its rules, a Deen that was reaching new heights each day with the Muslims feeling true contentment and happiness.

Musuh-musuh Islam tidak dapat menerima hal ini, dan tanda-tanda kebencian mulai tampak secara terang-terangan pada orang-orang Yahudi di sekitar. Ketakutan mereka semakin besar, dan mereka mulai memikirkan kembali serta meninjau ulang sikap mereka terhadap Muhammad ﷺ dan para Sahabatnya, terlebih ketika kaum Muslimin semakin teguh dan banyak orang yang menyambut seruan Islam. Orang-orang Yahudi murka terhadap mereka yang di antara mereka memeluk Islam. Mereka khawatir Islam akan menyusup ke dalam barisan mereka dan menyebar di tengah-tengah mereka, maka mereka pun menyerang Islam, keyakinan dan aturan-aturannya. Perdebatan sengit dan perang urat saraf pun terjadi antara kaum Muslimin dan orang-orang Yahudi, yang kemudian berkembang menjadi perselisihan yang jauh lebih keras daripada yang pernah dihadapi kaum Muslimin dari kaum Quraisy di Makkah.

The enemies of Islam could not digest this, and signs of revulsion began to outwardly manifest themselves in the neighboring Jews. Their fears grew and they began to rethink and reconsider their position towards Muhammad (pbuh) and his Sahabah now that the Muslims were becoming unshakable and many people were responding to the call of Islam. The Jews were enraged by those amongst them who converted to Islam. They feared that Islam would infiltrate their ranks and spread among them and so they attacked Islam, its beliefs and rules. Heated argument and a war of nerves ensued between the Muslims and Jews, this was to develop into a much fiercer dispute than the Muslims had to endure with the Quraysh in Makkah.

Konspirasi, kemunafikan, dan pengetahuan tersembunyi mereka tentang para Nabi dan Rasul terdahulu adalah senjata utama yang digunakan orang-orang Yahudi dalam perang pemikiran mereka melawan Muhammad ﷺ dan para Sahabatnya. Sebagian rabi mereka berpura-pura memeluk Islam, duduk bersama kaum Muslimin, dan memalsukan ketakwaan mereka. Tidak lama kemudian, mereka mulai menunjukkan tanda-tanda keraguan dan ketidakpastian dengan mengajukan pertanyaan kepada Muhammad ﷺ, dengan harapan dapat menggoyahkan keyakinan kaum Muslimin terhadap ‘Aqidah mereka dan Risalah Kebenaran yang diusung Islam.

Conspiracy, hypocrisy and their furtive knowledge of the former Prophets and Messengers were the main weapons used by the Jews in their intellectual war against Muhammad (pbuh) and his Sahabah. Some of their rabbis pretended to embrace Islam, sat with the Muslims and faked their piety. Soon they were to show signs of doubt and uncertainty by asking Muhammad (pbuh) questions in the hope of shaking the conviction of the Muslims in their ‘Aqeedah and the Message of Truth which Islam stood for.

Kaum Yahudi bergabung dengan sekelompok dari suku Aus dan Khazraj yang memeluk Islam secara munafik, dengan harapan dapat menimbulkan permusuhan dan kebingungan di kalangan kaum Muslimin. Perdebatan antara kaum Yahudi dan kaum Muslimin kadang berubah menjadi bentrokan fisik, meskipun telah ada perjanjian di antara mereka.

The Jews were joined by a group of the ‘Aus and Khazraj who embraced Islam hypocritically in the hope of causing animosity and confusion amongst the Muslims. The argument between the Jews and Muslims turned into physi- cal confrontation at times despite the oath between them.

Contoh nyata dari kekerasan kepala dan kebencian orang Yahudi tercermin dalam hilangnya kesabaran Abu Bakr pada suatu kesempatan, mengingat bahwa Abu Bakr dikenal sebagai orang yang bijaksana, sabar, dan berwatak tenang. Diriwayatkan bahwa Abu Bakr menyeru seorang Yahudi bernama Finhas agar bertakwa kepada Allah dan memeluk Islam.

A vivid example of the Jewish stubbornness and hatred was reflected in Abu Bakr’s loss of temper on one occasion, bearing in mind that Abu Bakr was a man noted for his wisdom, patience and calm character. It is reported that Abu Bakr called on a Jew named Finhas to fear Allah and embrace Islam.

Finhas menjawab, "Kami tidak miskin dibandingkan Allah, tetapi Dia merendahkan diri-Nya kepada kami; kami tidak membutuhkan-Nya, sedangkan Dia membutuhkan kami. Seandainya Dia tidak membutuhkan kami, Dia tidak akan meminta kami untuk meminjamkan uang kepada-Nya seperti yang dikatakan nabimu, dengan melarang kalian mengambil riba dan membolehkan kami mengambilnya. Seandainya Dia tidak membutuhkan kami, Dia tidak akan memberi kami riba." Finhas sedang merujuk pada firman Allah,

Finhas replied, “We are not poor compared to Allah but He humbles Himself to us; we are independent of Him while He needs us. Were He independent of us He would not ask us to lend Him our money as your prophet pretends, prohibiting you to take interest and allowing us to. Had He been independent of us He would not have given us interest.” Finhas was referring to Allah’s I saying,

“Siapakah yang mau memberi pinjaman kepada Allah, pinjaman yang baik, maka Allah akan melipatgandakan pinjaman itu untuknya dengan berlipat ganda?” [Al-Baqarah, 2:245].

“Who is he that will lend to Allah a goodly loan so that He may give it increase manifold?” [Al-Baqarah, 2:245].

Abu Bakr tidak dapat menahan amarahnya, dan begitu murka hingga ia memukul wajah Finhas dan berkata, "Demi Dzat yang di tangan-Nya nyawaku berada, seandainya bukan karena perjanjian di antara kita, niscaya akan kupenggal kepalamu, wahai musuh Allah!"

Abu Bakr could not control his anger, and was so enraged that he hit Finhas in the face and said, “By Him in whose hands my destiny rests, were it not for the treaty between us, I would cut off your head, you enemy of Allah!”.

Perdebatan antara kaum Muslimin dan Yahudi menjadi sangat panas dan berlangsung cukup lama. Sementara itu, sekitar enam puluh penunggang kuda Kristen dari Najran tiba di Madinah. Mereka pasti telah mendengar tentang permusuhan antara Yahudi dan kaum Muslimin, dan berharap perpecahan itu semakin dalam sehingga agama Kristen dapat berkuasa dan terbebas dari kedua agama tersebut, yang menurut klaim mereka sama-sama menantang Kristen untuk meraih supremasi. Kelompok Kristen ini berhubungan dengan kaum Muslimin maupun Yahudi.

The argument between the Muslims and Jews became very heated and went on for quite sometime. Meanwhile, about sixty Christian riders from Najran arrived in Madinah. They must have heard about the animosity between the Jews and Muslims and hoped that the rift would deepen so that Christianity could come to reign and rid itself from both religions, which were both challenging it for supremacy according to their claims. This group of Christians were in touch with both the Muslims and the Jews.

Rasulullah ﷺ menganggap mereka, bersama dengan orang-orang Yahudi, sebagai "Ahlul Kitab" dan mengajak keduanya untuk memeluk Islam. Beliau ﷺ membacakan kepada mereka firman Allah:

Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) regarded them, together with the Jews, as ‘People of the Book’ and invited them both to Islam. He (pbuh) recited to them Allah’s I saying,

Katakanlah (wahai Muhammad ﷺ): "Wahai Ahli Kitab (Yahudi dan Nasrani)! Marilah berpegang kepada suatu kalimat (ketetapan) yang tidak ada perselisihan antara kami dan kamu, bahwa kita tidak menyembah selain Allah dan tidak mempersekutukan-Nya dengan sesuatu apapun, dan bahwa sebagian kita tidak menjadikan sebagian yang lain sebagai tuhan selain Allah." Jika mereka berpaling, maka katakanlah: "Saksikanlah, bahwa kami adalah orang-orang yang berserah diri (muslim)." [Ali 'Imran, 3:64].

“Say (O Muhammad): “O people of the scripture (Jews and Christians) : Come to a word that is just between us and you, That we worship none but Allah, and we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah. Then, if they turn away, say: “Bear witness that we are Muslims.” [Al-Imran, 3:64].

Orang-orang Yahudi dan Nasrani bertanya kepadanya ﷺ tentang para nabi yang ia imani, lalu ia membacakan kepada mereka firman Allah,

The Jews and the Christians asked him (pbuh) about the Prophets he believed in and he recited to them Allah’s saying,

Katakanlah, "Kami beriman kepada Allah dan kepada apa yang diturunkan kepada kami, dan kepada apa yang diturunkan kepada Ibrahim, Isma'il, Ishaq, Ya'qub dan anak cucunya, dan kepada apa yang diberikan kepada Musa dan Isa, dan kepada apa yang diberikan kepada para nabi dari Tuhan mereka. Kami tidak membeda-bedakan seorang pun di antara mereka, dan kepada-Nya kami berserah diri (dalam Islam)" [Al-Baqarah, 2:136].

“Say, “We believe in Allah and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Ibrahim, Isma’eel, Isaac, Jacob, and to Al-Asbat (twelve sons of Jacob), and that which has been given to Moses and Jesus, and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted (in Islam)” [Al-Baqarah, 2:136].

Mereka tidak dapat menemukan lagi apa pun untuk dikatakan kepadanya. Hati mereka akan menerima bukti itu dan Kebenaran pun tampak jelas, tetapi mereka tidak mau beriman karena keras kepala. Orang-orang Yahudi dan Nasrani khawatir akan kedudukan, reputasi, dan status mereka; bahkan sebagian dari mereka mengakui hal ini. Diriwayatkan bahwa Abu Harithah, seorang dari salah satu delegasi Kristen dari Najran dan salah seorang ulama yang paling berilmu, pernah mengaku kepada seorang temannya bahwa ia yakin akan apa yang dikatakan Muhammad ﷺ. Ketika temannya bertanya apa yang menghalanginya untuk beriman, ia menjawab, "Cara orang-orang ini (bangsa Romawi atau Byzantium) memperlakukan kita. Mereka telah memberi kita gelar, membayar tunjangan kepada kita, dan menghormati kita. Tetapi mereka sangat menentangnya, dan jika aku menerimanya, mereka akan mengambil dari kita semua yang kau lihat ini." Hal ini membuktikan bahwa yang menghalangi mereka dari keimanan yang sejati adalah kekeraskepalaan, kesombongan, dan kepentingan pribadi yang egois serta remeh. Kemudian Rasulullah ﷺ mengajak orang-orang Nasrani untuk saling bermubahalah, yaitu saling memohon laknat jika mereka menentangnya, dan beliau membacakan kepada mereka firman Allah,

They could find nothing more to say to him. Their hearts would accept the evidence and the Truth was revealed, but they would not believe out of Debating the Jews and Christians fear for their positions, reputation and status, some of them in fact admitted this. It has been narrated that Abu Harithah, an individual from one of the Christian delegations from Najran and one of the most knowledgeable scholars, confessed to a friend that he was convinced by what Muhammad (pbuh) had said, and when his friend asked him what prevented him from believing, he replied, “The way these people (the Romans or Byzantines) treated us. They have given us titles, paid us subsidies, and honored us. But they are absolutely opposed to him, and if I were to accept him they would take from us all that you see.” This proved that what prevented them from true belief was pig-headedness, stubbornness, selfish and petty personal benefit and interest. Then the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) invited the Christians to a mutual invocation of a curse if they opposed him and he read to them Allah’s saying,

“Maka barangsiapa membantahmu tentang (Isa) setelah datang kepadamu ilmu (yang meyakinkan), katakanlah: "Marilah kita panggil anak-anak kami dan anak-anak kamu, perempuan-perempuan kami dan perempuan-perempuan kamu, diri kami dan diri kamu, kemudian marilah kita bermubahalah dan kita ucapkan laknat Allah atas orang-orang yang berdusta." [Ali 'Imran, 3:61].”

“Then whoever disputes with you concerning him (Jesus) after (all this) knowledge that has come to you, Say: “Come, let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves - then we pray and invoke the Curse of Allah upon those who lie.” [Al-Imran, 3:61].

Mereka bermusyawarah di antara mereka, lalu memutuskan untuk tidak lagi mencela dan membiarkan beliau ﷺ dengan agamanya, sementara mereka kembali kepada agama mereka sendiri. Selain itu, mereka meminta beliau ﷺ untuk mengirimkan seseorang yang beliau ﷺ percayai untuk memutuskan perkara di antara mereka mengenai sengketa keuangan tertentu. Maka Rasulullah ﷺ mengutus Abu ‘Ubaidah ibnul Jarrah untuk memutuskan perkara di antara mereka sesuai dengan Islam.

They took council among themselves after which they declared that they had decided not to resort to cursing and to leave him (pbuh) to his Deen while they would return to theirs. In addition to this they asked him to send a man whom he (pbuh) could trust to decide between them in certain financial matters in dispute among them. So the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) sent Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah to judge between them according to Islam.

Kekuatan Dakwah Islam, kekuatan akidah Islam, dan kekuatan argumentasi yang bersumber dari kebenaran berhasil mengalahkan semua argumen yang dilontarkan oleh orang-orang munafik, Yahudi, dan Nasrani. Konsep-konsep non-Islam mereka segera lenyap, dan hanya Islam yang tersisa sebagai ideologi yang unggul dan benar secara hakiki, dengan orang-orang kini terus membahas aturan-aturannya dan mengajak orang lain kepadanya. Islam menjadi tertanam kuat, dan benderanya meliputi seluruh urusan ideologi dan pemerintahan. Namun, hati orang-orang munafik dan Yahudi tetap condong pada kebencian terhadap kaum Muslimin, bahkan semakin dengki dan menghina mereka. Meski demikian, kekuasaan Islam di Madinah serta stabilitas dan landasan masyarakat Islam yang kokoh mendominasi segalanya. Berbagai ekspedisi dan unjuk kekuatan yang ditampilkan kaum Muslimin efektif membungkam semua pikiran yang sakit. Firman Allah (SWT) berjaya, dan musuh-musuh Islam dipaksa diam serta tunduk pada otoritas Islam.

The force of the Islamic Da’wah, the power of the Islamic belief and the strength of argument emanating as it did from the Truth managed to defeat all the arguments raised by the hypocrites, the Jews and the Christians. Their non-Islamic concepts soon vanished and only Islam remained as the overriding and inherently correct ideology, with people now continuously discussing its rules and inviting others to it. Islam became deeply rooted and its banner engulfed all ideological and ruling matters. However, the hearts of the hypocrites and the Jews remained bent on hatred towards the Muslims, begrudging and despising them all the more. Nevertheless, the authority of Islam in Madinah and the stability and solid foundation of the Islamic society dominated everything. The various expeditions and the show of strength displayed by the Muslims effectively managed to silence all sick minds. The Word of Allah (swt) reigned supreme and the enemies of Islam were forced to remain quiet and to submit to the authority of Islam.