This article illustrates the practice of the Holy Prophet (S) and the first Caliphs in dealing with opponents, and demonstrates that using differences as a pretext to declare other Muslims as kaafir and justify their persecution and killing has never been a practice of these great personalities.

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Al-Taqrib A Quarterly Journal of Islamic Unity Supervisor: Ayatullah Muhammad ‘Ali Taskhiri Managing Director: Hujjatul Islam ‘Ali Asghar Awhadi Editors: Shuja Ali Mirza and Rizwan Rashid Advisors: Sayyid ‘Ali Quli Qara’i, Dr Mahdi Hadawi Tihrani, Hujjatul Islam Tahsin al-Badri The opinions expressed in this journal do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Published by: The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought P.O. Box 15875-6995 Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Telephone +98 21 88321411 Fax +98 21 88321414 www.taghrib.ir