Islam not in need of reformation: leaders

Muslim leaders have hit back at Tony Abbott's calls for a religious revolution, saying Islam is not in need of a reformation.

Muslims can harmoniously coexist within pluralist societies based on the universal values of compassion and justice, the Mufti of Australia Ibrahim Abu Mohammad says.

"It is unfortunate that some people in this country wish to tarnish the reputation of the entire Australian Muslim community based on the irreligious actions of a few," Imam Shady Alsuleiman, president of the national imams council, added in a statement on Thursday.

The former prime minister has said the Islamic faith needed to "modernise from the kill-or-be-killed milieu of the Prophet Mohammed" and called for a "hearts and minds" campaign against extremist views.

In a speech in Singapore overnight, Mr Abbott repeated earlier comments that not all cultures were equal and those that advocated killing in the name of God were inferior.

"We need ... Muslims to be working effectively to ensure that Islam is more generally a religion of peace than it currently seems," he said.

Government frontbencher Alex Hawke stressed the importance of cohesion within the government on trying to tackle Islamic State.

"It's most helpful if everyone in government and in parliament works together," he told ABC radio.

"That there isn't any ego involved in that process - there isn't any need for anyone to one-up each other."