The Quraish were leading tribe in the Arabian Paninsula. They were used to idol worship that the Holy Prophet openly condemend. They took the teachings of Islam as an insult to their religion and the ways of their forefathers.
The location of the Ka'abah in Makkah gave them an important position as the custodians of the House. It was a source of income for them, particularly the priests, as the pilgrims to the Ka'abah would being rich gifts for their idols. In the rise of Islam, they saw the danger to their dignity and prestige and the loss of the important position which they had held for centuries. Apart from idol worship, adultery, drinking, gambling, murder and plunder were common among the Arabs, Islam condemned all these. Embracing Islam meant discaring these evil practices and adpoting a new mode of life. The Quraish were not at all ready to do that.
The chiefs, particularly those belonging to the Banu Umayyah, Could not bear that anybody from among the Banu Hashim, the tribe to which the Holy Prophet belonged, should have supremacy over them. They were also of the view that the Quran should have been sent down to some influential person. The Quran says: "Also, they say: why is not this Quran sent down to some leading man in either of the two (chief) cities." (43: 31)
The Quraish were proud of their chiefs, against whom they were not ready to accept the supremacy of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) who neither had wealth nor sons nor any other sign of worldly power. The Quraish used to say: "Is this the one whom Allah has sent as a messenger?" (25:41)
