Out of inherent jealousy and rivalry, selfish, ambitious, unscrupulous and malicious people can never take a joint action or co-operate. As a result, factions emerge among them which cause still more enmity between one another. In a verse this trait of the disbelievers is stated as follows:
... Their hostility towards each other is intense. You consider them united but their hearts are scattered wide. That is because they are people who do not use their intellect. (Surat al-Hashr: 14)
Nevertheless, despite the existence of these factions among them, some factors bring the evil together and make them act in unison. Before anything else, what makes them come together and unite for a common goal is, as mentioned in earlier sections, the influence of Satan has on the wicked ones. Their unification is not dependant on a call, a declaration or a written agreement. Indeed, in most cases, not a word is spoken or a meeting held to establish a strong unity. Even those among whom there is constant competition, or who have problems with each other due to conflict of interests, forget all about their differences when a common goal is in question, and decide to unite. This goal is the one commanded by Satan: to form a joint force against the good, against Muslims who believe in God and the hereafter, sincere, conscientious and honest people who are on the side of justice. In this way, they want to coerce the good to their side… God gives an account of this secret call of Satan in the verse; "…The Satans inspire their friends to dispute with you…"(Surat al-An'am: 121)
The ultimate aim of this alliance, shaped by the efforts and inspiration of Satan, does not differ from the goals of the evil of the past.
Both in the past and today, the main goal of the alliance of the evil is to hinder the diffusion of moral values, like self-sacrifice, sincerity, honesty, conscientiousness and justice among people. No matter how such people strive to present themselves as the advocates of goodness, and living by the principles of the Qur'an, these values will always remain an impediment to their attainment of their personal ambitions, that is, they do not suit their purposes. This is the underlying reason why they exert such an all-out effort to obstruct the spread of the Qur'anic principles and desire to have fewer good people around. Meanwhile, they wish the good to become diverted from the right path, and to join them. They always wish them to disregard the truth and pursue trivial aims and desires, as do the wicked, and become people who live only to eat, drink and enjoy themselves. Once the good start talking, thinking and writing like them, and conduct themselves towards the young, children and elderly in a like manner, they will be satisfied and stop opposing them. In several verses, God informs us that disbelievers are deeply committed to the idea of making the good side with themselves:
They would like you to disbelieve just as they disbelieve so that you will all be the same… (Surat an-Nisa': 89)
If they come upon you, they will be your enemies and stretch out their hands and tongues against you with evil intent, and they would dearly love you to disbelieve. (Surat al-Mumtahana: 2)
Many of the People of the Book would love it if they could make you revert to disbelief after you have believed, showing their innate envy now that the truth is clear to them. But you should pardon and overlook until God gives His command. Truly God has power over all things. (Surat al-Baqara: 109)
God informs in another verse that disbelievers would continue striving until they divert the believers from their religion:
…but barring access to the Way of God and rejecting Him and barring access to the Masjid al-Haram and expelling its people from it are far more serious in the sight of God. Tumult is worse than killing. They will not stop fighting you until they make you revert from your religion, if they are able. As for any of you who revert from their religion and die while they are disbelievers, their actions will come to nothing in the world and the hereafter. They are the Companions of the Fire, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. (Surat al-Baqara: 217)
Another primary goal of the alliance of the evil is to hinder believers from performing good deeds through various methods, if they fail to draw them to their own side. Information about the former nations constitute important part of the Qur'an, informing us about their methods, which range from slander, to arrest, threat, murder, assassination, massacre, exile, mockery, humiliation, and wreaking the unity of the believers. Some such verses are as follows:
As for those who have set up a mosque, causing harm and out of disbelief, to create division between the believers, and in readiness for those who previously made war on God and His Messenger, they will swear, 'We only desired the best.' But God bears witness that they are truly liars. (Surat at-Tawba: 107)
Before them the people of Noah denied the truth. They denied Our servant, saying, 'He is madman, 'and he was driven away with jeers. (Surat al-Qamar: 9)
God merely forbids you from taking as friends those who have fought you in the religion and driven you from your homes and who supported your expulsion. Any who take them as friends are wrongdoers. (Surat al-Mumtahana: 9)
However, it should not be forgotten that in the Qur'an, God makes it clear that futile are the strivings of those who drift away from the religion of God and revolt against His messengers:
The people of Noah denied the truth before them, and the Confederates after them. Every nation planned to seize its Messenger and used false arguments to rebut the truth. So I seized them, and how was My retribution! (Surah Ghafir: 5)