Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has written to over 1,000 Islamic leaders in Britain urging them to do more to root out extremists and stop young Muslims being radicalised.
In the letter, Mr Pickles stressed he was "proud" of the way Muslims in Britain had responded to the terror attacks in Paris, but there was "more work to do".
There are fears about the spread of terrorism after the Paris attacks that left 17 people dead and the arrest of more than two dozen people in anti-terror raids in Belgium, Germany and France.
Mr Pickles insisted Whitehall could not combat jihadist ideology alone and Imams must explain to young people what it means to be British.
"You, as faith leaders, are in a unique position in our society. You have a precious opportunity, and an important responsibility: in explaining and demonstrating how faith in Islam can be part of British identity," he said in the letter, also signed by communities minister Lord Ahmad.
"We believe together we have an opportunity to demonstrate the true nature of British Islam today.
"There is a need to lay out more clearly than ever before what being a British Muslim means today: proud of your faith and proud of your country.
"We know that acts of extremism are not representative of Islam; but we need to show what is."
Mr Pickles also sought to reassure the leaders that he had been in touch with police chiefs "to make sure they are providing the support that mosques need" - a concern that some imans expressed in recent discussions.
But the letter immediately drew criticism from some Islamic leaders.
Harun Khan, deputy secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: "We will be writing to Mr Eric Pickles to ask that he clarifies his request to Muslims to 'explain and demonstrate how faith in Islam can be part of British identity'.
"Is Mr Pickles seriously suggesting, as do members of the far right, that Muslims and Islam are inherently apart from British society?"
The letter emerged as the Metropolitan Police announced it had increased security around its buildings and bolstered numbers of firearms officers available.
Home Secretary Theresa May also promised to up the Government's efforts to tackle the terrorist threat and a "chilling" rise in anti-Semitism.
Speaking at an event to commemorate the Jewish people who died during the Paris massacre, she said: "Britain would not be Britain" without Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Christians and people of other faiths.
"I know that many Jewish people in this country are feeling vulnerable and fearful and you're saying that you're anxious for your families, for your children and yourselves.
"I never thought I would see the day when members of the Jewish community in the United Kingdom would say they were fearful of remaining here in the United Kingdom."
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and his US counterpart John Kerry are set to host talks in London on Thursday with ministers from around 20 countries, including Arab states, to discuss ways of tackling Islamic State.
:: Lord Ahmad, the co-author of the letter, will be speaking to Sky News at around 8.30am this morning. Watch Sky News on skynews.com and our mobile apps, or on channels Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 132.
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