More than 1.2 billion Muslims, one sixth of humanity, have started this year's Ramadan under highly unusual circumstances. It is now five years since the United States was attacked by terrorists in the name of Islam and more than three years since the war in Iraq, a predominantly Muslim country.
The rise of Islamic fundamentalism and the bloody battles fought daily in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, have brought into focus one of the most complex issues of our time.
The battle was joined recently by Pope Benedict XVI, when he quoted unflattering language about the Prophet of Islam. The Pontiff quoted a 14th Century Byzantine emperor as saying, "show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman."
The Pope's speech created an uproar in the Islamic world and made a bad situation only worse. But the criticism of his remarks was generally muted and non-confrontational. Realizing the delicate situation the world was facing, Islamic leaders, by and large, tried to minimize the impact of the Pontiff's comments, emphasizing more on the commonalities of the world's three major monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Imam Elahi of the "House of Wisdom" in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, says terror and terrorism are condemned in Islam and such condemnation is absolute and without reservation - as sanctioned by the holy Koran and the "sunnah," the deeds of the prophet of Islam as recorded and passed to the successive Muslim generations. Imam Elahi speaks for many Muslims when he talks about their trials and trepidation, given the "Christian" nature of the Western culture in which they live and the suspicion surrounding them. Still Elahi, alongside with many other Islamic thinkers, takes a positive view of the situation and says there is a common spiritual dimension to Ramadan, among the monotheistic religions - one that could become a more powerful leverage of strength and solidarity.
"A big part of this prejudice and discrimination against Islam and Muslim community comes out of ignorance," Elahi said. "Extremism is a disease that affects many people with different religious backgrounds. This is not only a Muslim community problem. In general, many Muslims are suffering from the same problem. We only suffer more because we are also accused. Islam is a religion of balance, a religion of reason and a religion of peace and justice. The violence and extremism that exist in the Middle East, you need to go to the root causes of the problem. We condemn any kind of terrorism, individual or otherwise."
The holy month of Ramadan starts when the sliver of the new moon is sighted to the satisfaction of each community or country. This explains the divergence which exists between the East and the West and the difference in the first day of fasting between various Islamic countries.
Elahi, like many other Islamic scholars, believes that to introduce certainty into his annual ritual of the sighting the new moon requires resorting to science and seeking assistance from the astonishing advances made in astronomy aided by modern super computers.
Fasting, daily prayers, alms giving, Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca, the acknowledgment of the oneness of God and the mission of Mohammad as God's chosen messenger, make up the five pillars of Islam.
There are about six million Muslims in the United States. It is generally agreed that Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in this country. The proximity of the holy month of Ramadan and the mid-term congressional elections and the special circumstances of the Muslims living in the United States highlight the importance of the political process and of an active participation of the Muslim community to take advantage of the process. Elahi believes the Muslim participation is a must.
"We encourage the Muslim community - come November, [to vote in] the congressional elections and (for) other positions," Elahi said. "Our recommendation to the Islamic community is that, if you want to remove ... this prejudice, then you have to be part of the system. Participate in the elections. Elect the right people. Voting is our constitutional right and is also a responsibility.
President Bush, in his Ramadan message, says that "Ramadan and the upcoming holiday seasons are a good time to remember the common values that bind us together." He goes on to say, "Society is enriched by our Muslim citizens whose commitment to faith reminds us of religious freedom in our society."
The president of the United States has repeatedly stated that the war against terrorism is not a war against Islam, as some believe. He has spoken of Islam as "a peace loving religion."