Terror will crash down on us if we fail to understand that a pluralistic society requires the personal and daily commitment of every citizen.

Clarity and consistency are not enough: the quest for truth requires humility and effort.

We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that is alive around us, and reconcile ourselves with our environment.

We've got to get away from the idea that scholars in the Islamic world can do our thinking for us. We need to start thinking for ourselves.

The very moment you understand that being a Muslim and being American or European are not mutually exclusive, you enrich your society. Promote the universal principles of justice and freedom, and leave the societies elsewhere to find their model of democracy based on their collective psychology and cultural heritage.

Violence against embassies and civilians must be categorically condemned. At the same time, we must attempt to understand why such events occur.