The head of the Muslim Association of Hawai‘i said he is disgusted by the film that has sparked anti-American protests abroad, and is fearful that all Muslims may wrongfully be associated with the ongoing violence.

Although persecuted throughout his lifetime, the prophet Muhammad who founded Islam never retaliated and would never have approved of the violence that has erupted in anti-American protests across Muslim countries since Sept. 11, said Ismail Elshikh, the imam or leader of the Muslim Association of Hawai‘i.

"When I reflect on what has been happening in some Muslim countries as a result of the despicable hate movie about the prophet of Islam, I become both saddened and disgusted: first, by the ignorant people who made such an evil movie; and second, when I see the reaction against this movie by some Muslims," Elshikh said in a sermon at the Manoa mosque just days after the first incidents. "The way some Muslims chose to express their disapproval of this movie completely contradicts the prophet’s teachings and hurts Islam more than the movie itself."

The film, "Innocence of Muslims," is an amateur YouTube film made in the U.S. that has been condemned by the U.S. government. On Sept. 11 it triggered a violent demonstration at the U.S. embassy in Cairo followed by an attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that killed U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.

"I was very sorry and disheartened to see innocent people murdered by the protesters in some Muslim areas, especially when one of the victims is an ambassador who is honored and protected dearly under the Islamic law and the teachings of our beloved prophet," Elshikh said.

"If the prophet was alive he would never have approved this violence," he said.

Abdul-Karim Khan, Islamic history professor at Leeward Community College, agreed that “demonstrating peacefully is anybody’s right but if you damage anything or kill anyone, it is against Islam and the Quran.”

It was a small minority of "thugs" and "gangsters" who "did horrible, horrible things like the Benghazi killings," Khan said. "(But) it is not the Islamic way to get violent, burn cars and trucks and property of other people. … That’s why the greater Muslim world population is sick and tired of demonstrations. Peaceful, yes; violent, no!"

Khan said Islam teaches Muslims to respect diplomats and foreign representatives. "You may not agree with them, but you do not have the right to kill them. They are guests in your country; you never harm them."

While every Muslim is incensed by the movie because it insults the prophet, every Muslim is not resorting to violence, he said.

"This is not what Muhammad the prophet of Islam would have asked of them. The vast majority of people are smart enough not to get agitated, not to get provoked, although there was every deliberate provocation on part of the moviemaker," Khan said.

Elshikh said in an email exchange this week that he and his congregation are dismayed and worried that "the evil movie only serves to divide us as humanity."

"As Muslims we are concerned that some American might associate the acts from few individuals with that of the over 1.5 billion Muslims (worldwide). Similarly, we are concerned that the acts of these evil filmmakers might be taken in the Muslim world as if all Americans agree with this movie, and we all know that they don’t," he said.

He is confident the 500 to 700 regular attendees of the Manoa mosque are consistent with most Muslims worldwide, as marches against the violence in various countries attest.

"For many, they don’t understand how some people can claim that they are Muslims and yet they resort to such violence. Others in our congregation don’t even consider such individuals as Muslims as they (are) distorting what lslam is all about and spreading the opposite of what Islam came to teach," Elshikh said.

In a sermon in the days after the Sept. 11 attacks, Elshikh reminded his congregation that the Quran prohibits Muslims from insulting others, including "disbelievers." There are historic accounts that Muhammad was often insulted and abused, but he never sought revenge and instead forgave his enemies, he added.

"Our response to this anti-prophet movie must be civilized, peaceful and positive. It could be by producing a movie highlighting the truth about the life of the prophet. And if still not satisfied, it could also be by filing a lawsuit against the producers of that movie for the unfounded defamation," Elshikh said.