Ease Your Mind Easily

Review by Sheryl Ga Feldman

Who Speaks for Islam?
What a Billion Muslims Really Think

John L. Esposito & Dahlia Mogahed
Gallup Press 2007
204 p

The real deal on what Muslims from around the world have to say about terrorism, the west, democracy, women and other contentious topics, this easy read is based on a "massive, multiyear Gallup poll."

Written by John L. Esposito, one of the most highly regarded writers on the Middle East, and co-authored by Dahlia Mogahed, senior analyst and executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, this book puts to rest the majority of major worries that westerners of non-Islamic faiths have about Muslims who are not their neighbors.

In short:

Who speaks for the West?
Muslims around the world do not see the West as monolithic. They criticize or celebrate countries based on their politics, not based on their culture or religion.

Dream jobs
When asked to describe their dreams for the future, Muslims don't mention fighting in a jihad, but rather getting a better job.

Radical rejection
Muslims and Americans are equally likely to reject attacks on civilians as morally unjustified.

Religious mainstream
Those who condone acts of terrorism are a minority and are no more likely to be religious than the rest of the population.

Admiration of the West
What Muslims around the world say they most admire about the West is its technology and its democracy -- the same two top responses given by Americans when asked the same question.

Critique of the West
What Muslims around the world say they least admire about the West is its perceived moral decay and breakdown of traditional values -- the same responses given by Americans when posed the same question.

Gender justice
Muslim women want both equal rights and religion in their societies.

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