VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI "sincerely regrets" that Muslims have been offended by some of his words in a recent speech in Germany, the Vatican said Saturday - stopping short of issuing an apology the Islamic world has demanded.

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI has invited representatives of Muslim countries to meet next week at his summer residence, the Vatican said Friday.

Austin Hill: Despite the immense power of Obama’s verbal skills, he is not able to “speak” things into existence. Thus, Obama simply declaring that America and Islam “overlap” is not enough to prevent Muslims murdering Americans on American soil.

Bearing prayer rugs and dressed in their finest clothes, more than 7,000 Valley Muslims gathered Tuesday for their annual Eid al-Adha celebration as 2.4 million others experienced the obligatory pilgrimage, or hajj, to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Bearing prayer rugs and dressed in their finest clothes, more than 7,000 Valley Muslims gathered Tuesday for their annual Eid al-Adha celebration as 2.4 million others experienced the obligatory pilgrimage, or hajj, to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Although the month of Ramadan is still five days away, Abdelmoneim and Amal Mabrouk and their seven of nine children still at home have already been practicing fasting, to suppress their eating habits and direct their hearts away from worldly activity.

When Hafez Turk moved to the Valley in 1965, there was only a scattering of Muslims. At times, only two or three gathered for Friday prayers in space provided at First Congregational Church of Phoenix.

Roman Catholics have an open invitation to spend an evening at any of the Valley’s 14 mosques when Muslims’ holy month of Ramadan begins Saturday, and it could serve to mend fences in the aftermath of comments by Pope Benedict XVI.

Roman Catholics have an open invitation to spend an evening at any of the Valley’s 14 mosques when Muslims’ holy month of Ramadan begins Saturday, and it could serve to mend fences in the aftermath of comments by Pope Benedict XVI.

Hajj fell in early January this year — just right for two Arizona State University students on winter break to accompany two family members on a trip to Mecca for the spiritual pilgrimage that able-bodied Muslims are expected to make at least once in their lifetimes.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- President Barack Obama began his latest bid to open a dialogue with the Muslim world on Wednesday by seeking the counsel of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's two holiest sites in Mecca and Medina.

An Oct. 30 letter to the editor asked the question, “What if the pilgrims were Muslim instead of Christian? What would this wonderful country be like?”

ANKARA, Turkey — It was a declaration meant to resound throughout the Muslim world. The U.S., said Barack Obama, “is not and will never be at war with Islam.”

As Veterans Day arrives, I find myself thinking of one of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. "Whosoever is not thankful to the people, is not thankful to Allah."

 RAMALLAH, West Bank - Muslims from the Middle East to Britain and Austria condemned Sunday the Mumbai shooting rampage by suspected Islamic militants as senseless terrorism, but also found themselves on the defensive once again about bloodshed linked to their religion.

At the most ancient and sacred rituals of Islam, modern-minded women are trying to work out their place in their faith, even as they draw inspiration from it. They say the hajj gives them the strength to push for a greater voice for women in their religion.

UNITED NATIONS - President Bush tried to quell anti-Americanism in the Middle East on Tuesday by assuring Muslims he is not waging war against Islam, regardless of what "propaganda and conspiracy theories" they hear.

Sixteen-year-old Yasmine Asfoor is planning a party she won’t attend. The student body president opened her notebook and faced Brianna Raymond, a fellow senior at Mountain Pointe High School in Ahwatukee Foothills.

Sixteen-year-old Yasmine Asfoor is planning a party she won’t attend. The student body president opened her notebook and faced Brianna Raymond, a fellow senior at Mountain Pointe High School in Ahwatukee Foothills.

WASHINGTON — Americans increasingly are convinced — incorrectly — that President Barack Obama is a Muslim, and a growing number are thoroughly confused about his religion.

KASHGAR, China - Hundreds of security personnel lined the streets to head off any disruption as the Olympic torch relay resumed Wednesday in western China's restive Muslim region of Xinjiang.

Kari Ansari recalls getting ready to celebrate one of the most important religious holidays of the year — the end of the monthlong Ramadan fast. She and her husband bought new clothes and gifts for their three children and planned a special family meal. But there was one obstacle to starting the celebration: Leaders of the two local mosques couldn’t agree when the feast, called Eid al-Fitr, should begin.

Kari Ansari recalls getting ready to celebrate one of the most important religious holidays of the year — the end of the month-long Ramadan fast. She and her husband bought new clothes and gifts for their three children and planned a special family meal. But there was one obstacle to starting the celebration: Leaders of the two local mosques couldn’t agree when the feast, called Eid al-Fitr, should begin.

Half a world away in Mecca, some 3 million Muslims were ending their holy pilgrimage, or “hajj,” to the most sacred place in Islam, fulfilling one of the five pillars of their faith.