By CLAYTON PARK

The tragic attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11 have been linked by the U.S. government to terrorist groups claiming to be serving the cause of Islam.

But members of the Idriss Mosque in the Northgate area beg to differ with such claims: "It is important to note that the American Muslims utterly condemn what are apparently vicious and cowardly acts of terrorism against our innocent civilians," states a recorded message that greets those who call the phone number for the Idriss Mosque. "We join with all Americans in calling for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators. No political cause could ever be assisted by such immoral acts.

"Islam is a peaceful religion and joins others in faith against these actions. Our prayers go out to those who have suffered and who have perished."

Islam is also described as a religion of peace in a book titled "Discovering Islam" by Moustafa Al-Qazwin (published by the Islamic Education Center of Orange County, Calif. in 1999). The following are excerpts from "Discovering Islam":

"'Islam' means 'submitting or surrendering one's will to the will of Allah (the Arabic word for God)," according to the book. The book also notes that "'Islam' has other meanings, one of which is 'to have peace.' Allah has said in the Holy Qur'an: 'He is Allah - there is no God but Him - the King, the Holy One, and the Peace' (59:23). 'And Allah invites to the abode of peace' (10:25)."

If that sounds familiar to those of the Jewish or Christian faith, it's because Muslims worship the same God.

All three religions also believe in the worship of a single God and that God, or Allah, is eternal, just, all knowing, all powerful and all merciful.

"The distinguishing feature of Islam is its insistence on absolute monotheism and the disallowal of anything, at all, to be associated with God," according to "Discovering Islam." "This includes the refusal of the idea that Jesus (peace be upon him) ... was God," the book notes. Instead, Muslims view Jesus as a "Messenger of God," just as the Prophet of Muhammad was a Messenger of God.

WHO ARE MUSLIMS?

"Muslim are the followers of the religion of Islam, i.e., those who submit to the will of Allah as explained in the Qur'an and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), the Messenger of Islam," notes the book "Discovering Islam." "The Muslim population today is about 1.2 billion and is spread over a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures. Approximately 18 percent of the Muslims live in the Arab world, but the majority live in Asia and Africa." The book also notes that the country that has the largest Muslim population is not found in the Middle East, but in Asia: Indonesia.

PRACTICES:

Islam has 10 fundamental practices: prayers, fasting, two types of necessary almsgiving, pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca (which is located in Saudi Arabia), "jihad," enjoining good, forbidding evil, supporting those who walk in the path of god, and turning away the enemies of God.

Prayers take place five times throughout the day: dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and night. During prayer, all Muslims must face the Ka'bah, (the House of Allah built by the Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael), which is located in the city of Mecca. In America, Muslims face north-east when praying because it is considered the shortest path to Mecca.

WOMEN:

Regarding women, "the Holy Qur'an declares that men and women are born equal. It gives women such rights as owning property, engaging in businesses, choosing a husband, claiming inheritance, receiving education, and being treated with respect." However, "there are natural differences in the peculiarities of each gender. The female as a mother differs in her personality and peculiarities from the man as a father. For each one of them, there is a specified message in life. ..."

For example, "No field is closed to women unless it interferes with their dignity, respect and chastity in society. Therefore, Islam does forbid women to display their attractions and physical appearance in society and calls for modesty and conservatism in their behavior and dress ... Women are instructed to cover modestly which includes covering the hair as well as the rest of the body except the hands and the face."

WHAT DOES "JIHAD" MEAN?:

The literal meaning of the word "jihad" is "to strive hard" to progress in all aspects of life. "Discovering Islam" notes that "although this word, in English, has taken on purely military connotations, in reality it covers the vast range of human enterprise - family life, work, spiritual development and, at the end of all this, justified defensive warfare.

"The most important 'jihad' is the struggle to purify the soul, and this 'jihad' far outweighs any military 'jihad,'" the book notes.

"Jihad does also refer to the legitimate struggle to defend human rights, such as personal and religious freedom as well as the defense of land, property and families," the book notes, however it points out: "Jihad as fighting must be for just causes." (