Malcolm Turnbull is comfortable with Tony Abbott remaining "connected" with the government and making public comment.
But the prime minister has taken issue with Mr Abbott's suggestion one of the causes of extremism is the Islamic faith has not properly integrated into society.
Mr Abbott, who was ousted by Mr Turnbull in September, has launched a media blitz in which he defended his legacy in government as well as remarking on the "massive problem" of Islam not fitting in with the modern world.
He's also vowed not to decide on his parliamentary future until at least April, which would avoid a by-election in his northern Sydney seat of Warringah but leave Liberal colleagues guessing about his ambitions.
Mr Turnbull, who toured Western Australia on Wednesday, said he was keeping in touch with Mr Abbott.
"I had a very good discussion with him a week or so ago and I'm sure I will meet with him again in the future," Mr Turnbull said.
While Mr Abbott was entitled to his opinion on extremism, almost all Muslims were appalled by it and the leaders of the major Muslim nations such as Indonesia had spoken out against it, the prime minister said.
Indonesia demonstrated the Muslim faith could be compatible with a democratic, open and tolerant society, Mr Turnbull said.
"The one thing we need to be very careful not to do, and I'm sure Tony agrees with this, is play into the hands of our enemies and seek to tag all Muslims with the responsibility for the crimes of a few," Mr Turnbull said.
Mr Abbott has urged Australians to promote the West's culture while calling on Muslims to do more to denounce terrorism and reclaim their faith.
"We've got to work closely with live-and-let-live Muslims because, as (Egyptian) President Al-Sisi has said, there needs to be a religious revolution inside Islam," Mr Abbott told Sky News on Tuesday.
In a News Corp column on Wednesday, Mr Abbott said Australians should stop being apologetic for values which have made their country free, fair and prosperous, because some cultures were not equal.
"We should be ready to proclaim the clear superiority of our culture to one that justifies killing people in the name of God," he wrote.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Mr Turnbull should pull Mr Abbott into line.
"Inflammatory language undermines efforts to build social cohesion, mutual respect and has the potential to harm the efforts of national security agencies to keep Australians safe," he said.
The Australian Muslim community had been working closely with police and security agencies.
Mr Abbott also defended his economic policies including the Medicare co-payment, university fee deregulation and waiting times for the dole.
Liberal frontbencher Jamie Briggs said it was no surprise Mr Abbott should want to defend his legacy, but the media were making too much of his comments.