We need more of this in the Muslim world, and we need less lashing out at Arab Muslims in our own country so my grandchildren will not still be fighting this war simply because we let reactionaries control the debate [hat tip Junkyard Blog]:

A zeal for Allah is rightful only when it is expressed in an enlightened manner, since Allah himself has ordained a restrained response. When the early Muslims were mocked by their pagan contemporaries, the Koran ordered not a violent backlash, but rather a civilized disapproval: “When you hear Allah’s verses being rejected and mocked at by people, you must not sit with them till they start talking of other things.” (Koran 4:140) The Koran also describes Muslims as “those who control their rage and pardon other people, [because] Allah loves the good-doers.” (3:134) Therefore all demonstrations against the mockery of Islam should be peaceful. All critiques of Islam should be countered not by threats and violence, but by rational counter-argument.

We also believe that terrorist acts can never be justified or excused. None of the challenges Muslims face, such as oppression or military occupation, can justify attacks against non-combatants. In the Holy Koran, Allah orders Muslims to “never let hatred of anyone lead you into the sin of deviating from justice.” (5:8) The true Islamic sense of justice is well-established in the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh); even in time of war – let alone peace – Muslim soldiers should never “kill the old, the infant, the child, or the woman.” Those who do so are not martyrs, but cold-blooded murderers.

Moderation does not equate to appeasement or fear. In fact, it takes a lot of courage to stand up to the mob mentality and forge a peaceful path forward.