A prominent Australian Muslim has compared the imminent deaths of the ringleaders of the so-called Bali Nine heroin smugglers to the execution-style killings by the Islamic State.

Former president of Australian Federation of Islamic Societies Haset Sali says granting clemency to Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran is needed to improve religion's image.

"More recently we have seen fanatics who have sought to hijack Islam and the philosophy of Islam, particularly in the Middle East and in Africa," he said.

"The tragedy of allowing that sort of thing [and] seeing that sort of thing emulated, in my view is not going to enhance Islam or benefit humanity in a global sense."

Chan and Sukumaran have been denied presidential pardons and are due to face a firing squad this month.

Mr Sali, who is based on the Sunshine Coast, has written an open letter to Indonesian president Joko Widodo arguing that as a responsible Muslim he must grant the two men clemency.

The letter titled 'ISLAM: How sacred is one human life?' starts:

"Dear President Jokowi Widodo,

The Holy Quran not only forbids killing it goes one step further: Chapter [Sura] 5 "The Table Spread" [of Jesus] Verse 32 says: "To take one life is as if you take the lives of all humanity and to save one life is as if to save all humanity."

The People of The Book [Jews and Christians] and the Holy Quran talk about an "eye for an eye" however all three religions qualify this principle by saying it is best to forgive.

We all know an "eye for an eye" if practiced fanatically would make the whole world blind.

As President of Indonesia you have a great opportunity to highlight to the whole World you are above the recent tragic killings/executions particularly in the Middle East and Africa."

Mr Sali says the messenger Muhammad also showed mercy towards his enemies and similar mercy should be shown towards the prisoners.

"My view is that the president of Indonesia, who is really 'the' Islamic leader in the world - being the leader of the Islamic country with the most Muslims in it, has an excellent opportunity to highlight how sacred human life is in Islam," he said.

Mr Sali says the drug smugglers should serve out long sentences, offering compensation to people affected by drug addiction.

"Sukumaran himself has become a very capable artist and there's no reason why the proceeds of his artwork cannot be dedicated to helping the victims of drugs," he said.

"In the case of Chan, he has become a model citizen in the jail he serves."

Mr Sali says the message of the Quran should overpower the laws of Indonesia for this case.

"It's not just the message of the Quran, it's the message of the Bible, the message of the Torah, and the message of all the divine messengers is that human life is sacred," he said.

"If we don't recognise that, if we don't practice that, I believe we run serious risk of ending up in no man's land."

Mr Sali says he is yet to find a way to deliver his letter to the president.

"I believe it is absolutely critical for not only Islam but the cause of humanity [but] there's no way I'll be giving up," he said.

"While there's life, there's hope."