Unity of God — Page 35
35 and the Teachings of Muhammad s as three days before attacking it. Conversely, when Abu Sufyan made his announcement, the Holy Prophet s as could have remained silent and still been justified in his actions. However, he spoke up and informed them of his plans to retaliate. EIGHTH TEACHING The eighth teaching of the Holy Prophet s as is that Muslims and non-Muslims have equal civil rights, a virtue not found in earlier teachings. The Jews were forbidden from charging interest to fellow Jews but permitted to take it from non-Jewish people. But the Holy Prophet s as prohibited taking interest from Jews, Christians, Muslims, or anyone else. He instructed that everyone should be treated by the same standard. In this way, he affirmed that Muslims and non- Muslims have the same civil rights. NINTH TEACHING The ninth teaching instructs about freeing slaves. The Holy Prophet s as did not differentiate between Muslim and non-Muslim slaves when setting them free. While it is said that the Holy Quran mentions a command to free enslaved Muslims, this applies only in specific situations where Muslims have suffered greatly. But