Two Fridays ago, the Muslim world entered the holy month of Ramadan. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, required of all Muslims. For one whole month, Muslims cannot eat or drink from sunrise till sundown and must abstain from all worldly pleasures.

The act of fasting cleanses the body. The whole month is also dedicated to the cleansing of the spirit through prayer and meditation, through acts of kindness.

It is a time for soul-searching. Here at home, I would enjoin my fellow Muslims to remove our blinders and view our situation as it truly is, warts and all, and think of how we can change. From within.

We are minorities caught in crushing poverty and armed conflict. We are the poorest of the poor, the most illiterate and poorly educated. Our people, always harking back to the history of the powerful sultanates in Mindanao, are frustrated and angry by their fall from glory and current marginalization.

We often forget that we are no longer the dominant power or population in Mindanao. After centuries of Western colonization, state attempts at integration, and continuing migration, the region is now shared by three major groups set apart from each other by their religious and cultural traditions: the Christians, the Muslims or the Moros, and the Lumads or the indigenous peoples.

The social landscape of Mindanao has long been defined by diversity.

Diversity -- for the many communities that are characterized by it -- can be both a blessing and a challenge. On the one hand, the positive interface between the cultural practices and faith traditions of the community’s diverse inhabitants has enriched Mindanao’s community life. But on the other hand, the seemingly irreconcilable religious ideologies and tribal interests (for this purpose, I consider Ilocanos, Ilonggos and Tagalogs as tribes) can often make it difficult for their adherents to look beyond their differences and search for common grounds.

Since it is our holy month of Ramadan, we Muslims should think about this diversity and how we have behaved to the others. The religious diversity is often threatened by the conflicts that have periodically flared up between the government and the liberation fronts of Muslims struggling for independence -- the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Do we act with tolerance as we expect others to accept us? Centuries of conflict have exacted a heavy toll on Muslim-Christian relations in the region. To many in our communities, their perception of the “other” has been filtered through the sufferings and hardships they and others in their communities have experienced during the war.

Historical stereotypes persist -- that of the Moros as “uncivilized heathens” and the Christians as “land grabbers” -- and there is very little opportunity and incentive, in the midst of the traumas of war, to calmly reassess these images. Can we Muslims reach out to the others and strengthen the bonds of friendship?

While it is true that Muslims, Christians and Lumads generally get along as neighbors despite their differences, the periodic breaking out of armed conflict and political controversies strain the relationship of the peoples of Mindanao.

We have to guard against those who use religious differences to manipulate these political tensions and differences to further their own interests, who would recruit our angry and frustrated youth to join groups like ISIS.

As we soul-search this Ramadan, I encourage our faithful to reflect on Surah 49, Verse 13 from the Holy Quran:

“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know and honor each other (not that you may despise one another). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is [he who is] the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted.”

Perhaps if the Muslim faithful truly understand that we are enjoined by God to accept our neighbors who may not be of the same faith or culture, we would be more comfortable in reaching out to those who are not like us.

We should also reflect on Surah 60, Verse 8: “Allah forbids you not, with regards to those who fight you not for [your] Faith nor driven you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them. For Allah loveth those who are just.” This chapter of the Holy Quran further commands Muslims to treat their neighbors -- those who have not committed aggression against their community or their faith -- well and justly.

One of my favorite verses for coexistence and tolerance of multi-ethnic, multi-religious communities is Surah Aal ’Imran 3:64: “Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to a common word between us and you: that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside God. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered [unto Him].

This Surah is at the heart of the powerful letter of Muslim scholars to Pope Benedict known as “A Common Word”: Love of God and love of neighbor. “A Common Word” further details the commandment of God for us to love our neighbors. The Prophet Muhammad said: “None of you has faith until you love for your neighbor what you love for yourself.”

Rather than fight each other in conflicts where there can be no victor, the document urged Muslims and Christian to “vie with each other only in righteousness and good works.” It asked both religions to be good neighbors: “Be fair, just and kind to another and live in sincere peace, harmony and mutual goodwill.”

Imagine what can happen if we can engage one another in talks where we can state our differences up front and so dialogue with a clear conscience and sincerity.

Imagine the good that can result if, instead of focusing on what divides, we engage and collaborate to attain common ground. Imagine if we can have discussions on the Bangsamoro Basic Law in Congress without harassment and discrimination. Imagine...

Amina Rasul is a democracy, peace and human rights advocate, and president of the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy. Surveil is her column in BusinessWorld.