وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَا فِي كُلِّ قَرْيَةٍ أَكَابِرَ مُجْرِمِيهَا لِيَمْكُرُوا فِيهَا وَمَا يَمْكُرُونَ إِلَّا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Thus have We installed in every town its major criminals that they may plot therein. Yet they do not plot except against their own souls, but they are not aware.
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 6:123
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 6:123] The tribal chiefs of Makka devised intrigues against the life and mission of the Holy Prophet. Such influential leaders always opposed the messengers of Allah right from the beginning in every community; and even today their followers work against Allah's religion, but they cause their own ruin. It is the divine plan to show the people that the might of the powerful chiefs and leaders becomes ineffective and worthless before the ever-prevalent omnipotence of Allah.