Quran mentions many incidence of conflict between elders of a community –in the form of Kings and leaders- and the messengers. Allah mentioned Pharaoh, the one who debated with Ibrahim, the people of Noah, Aad and others who were arrogant.
Also, Allah mentions the position of their scholars in front of messengers, as Allah says:
Then when their Messengers came to them with clear proofs, they were glad (and proud) with that which they had of the knowledge (of worldly things). And that at which they used to mock, surrounded them (i.e. the punishment). [84] So when they saw Our punishment, they said: "We believe in Allâh Alone and reject (all) that we used to associate with Him as (His) partners. [85] Then their Faith (in Islâmic Monotheism) could not avail them when they saw Our punishment. (Like) this has been the way of Allâh in dealing with His slaves. And there the disbelievers lost utterly (when Our Torment covered them). [surah Ghafir]
[4] None disputes in the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh but those who disbelieve. So let not their ability of going about here and there through the land (for their purposes) deceive you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)for their ultimate end will be the Fire of Hell)!
[35] Those who dispute about the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh, without any authority that has come to them, it is greatly hateful and disgusting to Allâh and to those who believe. Thus does Allâh seal up the heart of every arrogant, tyrant. (So they cannot guide themselves to the Right Path).
The word Sultan [authority] here means the revealed message of Allah, as is referred to in various other verses:
[35] Or have We revealed to them an authority (a Scripture), which speaks of that which they have been associating with Him? [surah ar-Rum] .
Ibn Abbas says that: every time the word Sultan in mentioned in Quran, then it refers to argument. This is mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari.
Allah mentioned in Surah Gafir (40) the stand of those who oppose messengers in detail, which carries lots of lessons for us. Here are some of these verses:
Verily, those who dispute about the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh, without any authority having come to them, there is nothing else in their breasts except pride (to accept you (Muhammad (peace be upon him)) as a Messenger of Allâh and to obey you). They will never have it (i.e. Prophethood which Allâh has bestowed upon you). [verse 56]
[69] See you not those who dispute about the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh? How are they turning away (from the truth, (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism to the falsehood (i.e. of polytheism))
[75] That was because you had been exulting in the earth without any right (by worshipping others instead of Allâh and by committing crimes), and that you used to rejoice extremely (in your error).
[83] Then when their Messengers came to them with clear proofs, they were glad (and proud) with that which they had of the knowledge (of worldly things). And that at which they used to mock, surrounded them (i.e. the punishment).
Also in Surah al-Anaam, al-Araaf and in general the Makki surahs, and some of the Madani surahs contain conversation with these elders and arguments with them through comparison and analogy, and their stories with the messengers.
[26] And indeed We had firmly established them with that wherewith We have not established you (O Quraish)! And We had assigned them the (faculties of) hearing (ears), seeing (eyes), and hearts; but their hearing (ears), seeing (eyes), and their hearts availed them nothing since they used to deny the Ayât (Allâh's Prophets and their Prophethood, proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations) of Allâh, and they were completely encircled by that which they used to mock at! [surah al-Ahqaf]
In this verse Allah mentions that He provided those people with the tools to comprehend and move, but these tools had little benefit to them when they denied the proofs of Allah, which are the messages brought by those messengers of Allah. This is why the son of Shaikh al-Hosairy told me, narrating by his father Shaikh al-Hosairy –the Shaikh of Hanafis on his time- he said: the scholars of Bukhara used to say of Ibn Sina that he was: an Intelligent Kafir.
[21] Have they not traveled in the land and seen what was the end of those who were before them? They were superior to them in strength, and in the traces (which they left) in the land. But Allâh seized them with punishment for their sins. And none had they to protect them from Allâh. [surah Ghafir]
This strength and power in this verse refers both to the physical power for action, and the intellectual power of mind.
[82] Have they not traveled through the earth and seen what was the end of those before them? They were more in number than them and mightier in strength, and in the traces (they have left behind them) in the land; yet all that they used to earn availed them not. [gharif]
So here they are superior in both quantity and quality, and they are mightier in themselves and in their influence on civilization.
Allah informs about the followers of those elders on the day of judgment:
[66] On the Day when their faces will be turned over in the Fire, they will say: "Oh, would that we had obeyed Allâh and obeyed the Messenger (Muhammad (peace be upon him))" [67] And they will say: "Our Lord! Verily, we obeyed our chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us from the (Right) Way. [68] Our Lord! give them double torment and curse them with a mighty curse!" [al-Ahzab]
[47] And, when they will dispute in the Fire, the weak will say to those who were arrogant: "Verily, We followed you: can you then take from us some portion of the Fire?" [48] Those who were arrogant will say: "We are all (together) in this (Fire)! Verily, Allâh has judged between (His) slaves!" [ghafir]
And this is very frequent in Quran where the statements of the enemies of Prophets – among the kings and elders and hypocrites- are mentioned. See some examples of those who deviate their followers:
[34] O you who believe! Verily, there are many of the (Jewish) rabbis and the (Christian) monks who devour the wealth of mankind in falsehood, and hinder (them) from the Way of Allâh (i.e. Allâh's Religion of Islâmic Monotheism). And those who hoard up gold and silver (al-Kanz: the money, the Zakât of which has not been paid), and spend them not in the Way of Allâh, announce unto them a painful torment. [tawbah]
[51] Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture? They believe in Jibt and Tâghût and say to the disbelievers that they are better guided as regards the way than the believers (Muslims). [an-Nisa’]
In Bukhari and Muslim Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari: The Prophet said, "The example of him (a believer) who recites the Qur'an is like that of a citron which tastes good and smells good. And he (a believer) who does not recite the Qur'an is like a date which is good in taste but has no smell. And the example of a dissolute wicked person who recites the Qur'an is like the Raihana (sweet basil) which smells good but tastes bitter. And the example of a dissolute wicked person who does not recite the Qur'an is like the colocynth which tastes bitter and has no smell. [Bukhari 5020 and Muslim 797]
So here it is clear that among those who recite Quran and some believers and some hypocrites.
Source: Fatawa, Ibn Taymiyyah, vol. 9 pages: 38-42
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Indeed, We have sent down for you (O mankind) a Book, (the Qur'ân) in which there is your reminder (and Honor). Will you not then understand? [Quran al-Anbiay (21):10]
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