This perception incorporates the Israeli-Palestinian problem, the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the horror stories of Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib and other prisons, the vitriolic attacks on the prophet of Islam and the constant projection in the media of Muslims as violent extremists. Muslims therefore believe that Islam is under attack.

In Muslim society after Muslim society, complaints about the negative image of Islam in the West were at the forefront of every conversation that we had. This was true for everyone, and we were fortunate in being able to meet a wide range of people which included presidents, prime ministers, princes, sheikhs, students and taxi drivers.

We also found that the Prophet of Islam was the number one role model for Muslims of every nationality, race or sect. Because of the nature of globalization, satellite television and the internet ensure that every time the prophet of Islam is called a “terrorist” or a “pedophile,” Muslims throughout the world are further convinced that this indeed is an attack on their very faith. The cumulative effect of all this is to feed into the high levels of anti-Americanism that we encountered on our journey.

But, there is hope as I have argued in my book Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization, which is based on our travels.

If the administration is indeed serious about winning the hearts and minds of the Muslim world, and if the main causes for tension between the U.S. and the Muslim world are understood, then every American can help by becoming a bridge or ambassador to change the nature of the relationship; as indeed must every Muslim.

Without this radical rethink, we will remain on our present violent and uncertain course.

Dr. Akbar Ahmed, an On Faith panelist, is Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University. He is the author of the new book "Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization."