I believe the greatest threat to Muslims today comes not from the outside world, but from within. The conflict between Sunni and Shia threatens the lives and livelihoods of millions of Muslims. Across the Islamic world, extremists are wrapping their perverse agenda in religious cloth; tearing families, countries and the ummah (ummah - the Muslim community throughout the world) apart.

Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak,
Prime Minister of Malaysia. UN Photo/Ryan Brown

Said Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia, in his speech at the 68th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 28, 2013.

The Malaysian Prime Minister said : "As authoritarian regimes have fallen, and governments have been swept away by political change, extremists have tried to fill the space that remains. Around the world, extremism is taking lives and crushing opportunity. The corrosive influence of extremism cannot be easily countered. But we are not powerless to act. I believe moderation in religion and the political process can stem the loss of life and liberty in the Muslim world". He expressed his anguish at the violent situation prevailing in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Pakistan. He stressed the need to find the vision and the political will to commit to a just solution for Palestine. 

The Prime Minister quoted several verses from Quran to illustrated that Islam was the religion of peace, of moderation, of tolerance. "The Quran not only condemns suicide, unjust war, and retribution by force; it also makes clear the Prophet’s desire for Muslims to live in peace with one another and their neighbours", he added.

He concluded by saying : "Finally, we should continue to focus on building stronger and more prosperous societies, predicated on the rule of law and the practice of democracy. The Arab Spring showed that the Muslim world is crying out for change. Governments must answer that call. We must provide good governance to fight corruption, create jobs to tackle poverty, and deliver sustainable growth that builds a world of opportunity for our citizens. We must create economies in which people can fulfil their own aspirations, not those of extremists. Muslim leaders should speak up and condemn such violence, lest their silence is mistaken for acceptance.