Peace. Peace. All we want is peace.
That's the English version of the Arabic song playing when callers into the Islamic Foundation of Villa Park are put on hold.
Through that song, the mosque is describing the basic meaning of Islam, said Abdul Hameed Dogar, the foundation's director.
He and other suburban Muslims believe they must continually fight stereotypes that have them all connected to terrorism in some way.
"God is going to judge who is a terrorist and who is for peace," Dogar said.
As the United States leads the war against Iraq and Sadaam Hussein, who is Muslim, suburban Muslims find themselves, as they did after Sept. 11, defending their beliefs and going through life with caution.
More than 400,000 Muslims live in the Chicago area and worship in mosques throughout the six-county metropolitan region. Officials there are adding extra security as members are praying that there won't be retaliation as a result of the war.
Already, the Villa Park mosque has been the target of a crime, Dogar said. Last week, a double-pane window on the mosque's north side was left with two holes after those praying inside said they heard gunshots. Police said there is no evidence the holes were made by bullets and are not yet calling it a hate crime.
Kareem Irfan, chairman of the Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, met with federal authorities Thursday to talk about a death threat left on an answering machine at a Bloomingdale area mosque and one written to a Muslim living in a condominium complex in Evanston.
"We hope these are just people acting out of emotion and ignorance," Irfan said.
Irfan and others said they support the government's decision to fight the war but also pray for consensus among the international coalition.
At the Islamic Cultural Center, Vernon Hills resident Esmail Koushanpour is doing his part to educate people about Islam as people again are questioning the religion's basic tenets.
He is careful to point out that Islam does not proselytize. Muslims simply answer questions. People, he said, must come to the faith on their own.
He said what people often discover is the similarities between the three major religions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
"We use the Arabic word Allah, but it's the same God," said Koushanpour, executive director of the center, located in Northbrook.
Islam, like Christianity and Judaism, teaches peace, prosperity and love, he said.
There are some differences, however.
"Muslims do not believe in the trinity. We do not believe Jesus was the son of God. He was the son of Mary," said Koushanpour, who also is vice chairman of the Islamic Society of Greater Chicago in Lombard. "We do not believe he was crucified. But we do believe he was taken to heave and will come back to finish his ministry."
Unlike Judaism and Christianity, there also are no sects in Islam.
"Muslims all practice the same way. Nationality does not play a role," Koushanpour said.
As war is under way suburban Muslims say whether they have ties to Iraq, Iran, Palestine, India or Pakistan, they are praying for peace.
"For us, it's like double jeopardy. But what can you do? It's not in your hands. All you can do is pray," said Mazher Ahmed, vice president of the Batavia Islamic Council. "You have to go about life and pray that God keeps people safe, especially the innocent ones."