JOPLIN, Mo. — Dear friends, neighbors, colleagues, teachers and parents:

I write this letter after witnessing distressing and shocking world events over the past few days, which came as a response to an obscure film that was released on the Internet. I write to let you know that we, as an American-Muslim family, and also just as Muslims, have watched the news over the past few days in complete shock, horror and dismay.

We strongly condemn the death of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens. He was a wonderful man who gave the ultimate sacrifice in his service and dedication to this country, and in helping the people he had vowed to help. We also condemn the deaths of the servicemen who worked with him.

There is absolutely no justification for what has happened, either in Islam or in humanity.

We also strongly condemn the ignorant, hate-based riots occurring in Libya and Egypt and other countries around the world. Again, there is absolutely no justification for these acts in Islam.

These acts are being committed by a fringe minority group of ignorant people who act on hate and politically motivated rhetoric. Their actions are not advocated by what we Muslims practice in our religion. They claim that their angry acts are a response to what they perceive as a humiliation of Islam’s greatest symbol of peace, humility and non-violence: Muhammad.

But what they don’t realize is that their own evil actions desecrate his name more than any movie ever has. Muhammad himself faced ridicule, taunting and abuse over a 13-year period in his life. Not once did he respond with harsh words or actions, nor did he ever teach his followers to do so.

We Muslims view Muhammad alongside Jesus, Abraham, Noah, Moses and Adam as messengers who came bearing the same message of peace, love and humanity in the world. Muhammad would never have acted this way — killing, disrupting peace, harming property, causing mayhem or maligning the name of Islam and its followers.

Muhammad’s non-violent beliefs were the basis for Gandhi’s worldview. Over the course of history, many historians and world leaders have taken note of Muhammad’s contribution to the world as he changed the course of humanity to make the world a better place. We, as Muslims, are speaking up now to bring the world together in humanity as Muhammad did. He taught us to speak the truth, even if our voices wavered.

An overwhelming majority of Muslims have condemned these violent reactions. Muslims all over the world are upset. We have extensive family and friends scattered all over the Middle East, Southeast Asia and right here in the United States. Our friends, family and millions of other Muslims around the world are united in unequivocally condemning these acts and stating that they do not represent Islam.

These actions were carried out by people with no conscience — hypocrites who claimed to be upset in the name of Muhammad and committed deeds that Muhammad never condoned or taught. These actions grossly smear the names of Islam, Muhammad and individual Muslims.

To us, as Muslims, if someone takes a single human life they are punished as if they took the lives of all of mankind that ever existed on Earth. I write this letter because I don’t want to let the haters’ voices be heard over ours. I write this letter because I believe in leaving the world a better place for future generations. I believe in love and co-existing; in building bridges and focusing on what is common between us so we can raise children who are great world citizens.

I was invited recently to speak at the Neighbor’s Rally in Joplin’s Landreth Park. The event brought together Christians, Muslims and Jews, and gave townspeople the chance to show love for each other. This happened after our mosque burned down, and Ashley Carter, a  20-year-old student from Ozark Christian College, reached out to our community in a gesture of love. It was an honor for me to speak at the event. I did it for my children as a way of highlighting how there is never a place for hate in the world — forgiveness is more rewarding, and the common things between us are far more numerous than the differences.

The video of me speaking can be viewed at http://youtu.be/r3oxwono8QI.

Muslim organizations are overwhelmingly condemning these deplorable, mischievous acts, including the Islamic Circle of North America (www.icna.org). There is also an online petition where people can condemn these acts of violence and send condolence letters to Ambassador Steven’s family on behalf of Muslims all over the world at www.celebratemercy.com/Stevens.

Please accept my gesture of reaching out. I’m trying to set the record straight and be heard as a voice that rises above the voices of the haters who misrepresent our religion.

With peace and love,

Hina Qidwai

Joplin