The true Muslim spirit is not to destroy, but to build. We have an obligation to live this message to our compatriots in the West, and to challenge those fringe Muslims who desecrate it with their deplorable blind anger. In such trying times, as we American Muslims struggle to deal with the dual challenges of post-9/11 life, we are mobilizing with optimism to become more American and more Muslim.

There is no evidence that the Muslim world is in anyway accepting of, or even indifferent to, the tragedy in Beslan, Russia. All indications coming from all corners of the Muslim world clearly point to a strong condemnation of the heinous act.

In commemorating the third anniversary of 9/11, our grief as American-Muslims is twofold. On one hand we deplore the attack on our country. On the other hand, we realize with great regret that on that date our religion was hijacked along with those four planes.