Who Speaks for Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think

Authors John L. Esposito and Dalia Mogahed wrote in the Introduction to this 2007 book, “The religion of Islam and the mainstream Muslim majority have been conflated with the beliefs and actions of an extremist minority… substantial minorities of Americans admit to harboring at least some prejudice against Muslims and favoring heightened security measures for Muslims as a way to prevent terrorism… Are the negative perceptions and growing violence on all sides only a prelude to an inevitable all-out war between the West and 1.3 billion Muslims? The vital missing peace among the many voice weighing in on this question is the actual views of everyday Muslims… it is time to democratize the debate…“This book is the product of a mammoth, multiyear Gallup research study. Between 2001 and 2007, Gallup conducted tens of thousands of hour-long, face-to-face interviews with residents of more than 35 nations that are predominantly Muslim or have substantial Muslim populations… In totality, we surveyed a sample representing more than 90% of the world’s 1.3 billion Muslims, making this the largest, most comprehensive study of contemporary Muslims ever done… Gallup’s research produced a number of insights, but the most important was this: The conflict between the Muslim and Western communities is far from inevitable. It is more about police than principles. HOWEVER, until and unless decision makers listen directly the people and gain an accurate understanding of this conflict, extremists on all sides will continue to gain ground.” (Pg. x-xi)They continue, “we chose the most significant, and… surprising conclusions to share with you. Here are just some of those counterintuitive discoveries: … 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…. When asked to describe their dreams for the future, Muslims don’t mention fighting in a jihad, but rather getting a better job… Muslims and American are equally likely to reject attacks on civilians as morally unjustified… Those who condone acts of terrorism are a minority and are no more likely to be religious than the rest of the population… What Muslims… most admire about the West is its technology and its democracy… What Muslims … least admire about the West is its perceived moral decay and breakdown of traditional values… Muslim women want equal rights AND religion in their societies… Muslims… say that the one thing the West can do to improve relations with their societies is to moderate their views toward Muslims and respect Islam…. The majority… want religious leaders to have no direct role in crafting a constitution, yet favor religious law as a source of legislation.” (Pg. xii-xiii)They observe, “Today ‘jihad’ continues to have multiple meanings. It is used to describe the personal struggle to lead a good or virtuous life, to fulfill family responsibilities, to clean up a neighborhood, to fight drugs, or to work for social justice. ‘Jihad’ is also used in wars of liberation and resistance as well as acts of terror… Many mainstream Muslim theologians have asserted that radical who encourage a ‘jihad against the infidels’ employ a faulty reading of the Quran, and they point to verses that teach that an all-powerful God could certainly eliminate disbelief if he wanted. Therefore it is not up to any Muslim to eliminate if for him by force.” (Pg. 19-20)They recount, “When asked about their hopes and dreams, many respondents first cite economic issues: better economic conditions, employment opportunities, and improved living standards for a better future. These are followed by the need to improve law and order, eliminate civil tensions and wars, and promote democratic ideals in their political systems… domestic priorities include access to better educational systems to eradicate illiteracy and ignorance and to achieve gender equality, social justice, and religious freedom.” (Pg. 26)They note, “In our data, the emphasis that those in substantially Muslim countries give to a new model of government---one that is democratic yet embraces religious values---helps to explain why majorities in most countries… want Sharia as at least ‘a’ source of legislation.” (Pg. 48)They point out, “Muslim attitudes toward the United States have been affected by what is perceived as America’s---and to a great extent Europe’s---‘double standard’ in promoting democracy; its long record of supporting authoritarian regimes and failure to promote democracy in the Muslim world as it did in other areas and countries after the fall of the Soviet Union… the use of ‘creating democracy’ as a retroactive rationale for invading Iraq only after weapons of mass destruction in that country didn’t materialize.” (Pg. 58-59)They explain, “what do respondents believe the West can do to improve relations with the Muslim world?... the most frequent responses to this open-ended question are: *demonstrate more respect, more consideration *do no understand the status of Arab/Muslim countries *demonstrate more understanding of Islam as a religion, and do not downgrade what Islam stands for.” (Pg. 61)They acknowledge, “The real difference between those who condone terrorist acts and all others is about politics, not piety. How then do we explain extremists’ religious rhetoric?... religion is the dominant ideology in today’s Arab and Muslim world, just as secular Arab nationalism was in the days of Egyptian President … Nasser. The Palestinian Liberation Organization… used secular Palestinian nationalism in its rhetoric to justify acts of violence and to recruit… today religion is used to justify extremism and terrorism.” (Pg. 74)They state, “Suicide terrorism was unknown in Iraq before the U.S.-led invasion and occupation. However, it became a widespread tactic used by Sunni and Shia militants in their sectarian conflicts over power and to end U.S. occupation… If suicide terrorism is not simply driven by blind religious, ethnic, or cultural hatred, but by perceived or real injustices, then what is the answer to the ever-present question, ‘Why do they hate us?’” (Pg. 79)They note, “Americans, like the vast majority in the Muslim world, share a fundamental aversion to extremism. Asked what they admire least about the Muslim world, Americans say overwhelmingly ‘extremism/radicalism/not open to others’ ideas.’ Likewise, when asked what they admire least about their own societies, Muslims’ top concerns include extremism and terrorism. This should not be surprising if we recall that the primary victims of Muslim extremism and terrorism have been Muslims.” (Pg. 96)They state, “Consider this finding: High percentages of [Muslim] women and men associate ‘both sexes enjoy equal legal rights’ with Western nations, and men and women cite political freedom, free speech, and gender equality among the most admired aspects of the West… Therefore… we expected a high percentage to associate the statement ‘adopting Western values will help in their progress’ with Arab and Muslim nations. However, the exact opposite turned out to be the case… So while expressing a positive perception of women’s legal status in the West and asserting that this SHOULD be the case, very few respondents associate ‘adopting Western values will help their progress’ with Muslim countries. This disconnect perplexed our researchers. Why weren’t more Muslim women eager to Westernize?” (Pg. 107-108)They consider “men convicted of honor killings, long believed to be the result of religious zeal… [But] 69.4% of the men who committed the honor killings in Jordan did not perform their daily prayers, and 55.5% did not fast. That these men fail to observe the most obligatory rituals of Islam suggests that their act of murder is not motivated by religious zeal or devotion. Rather, other factors normally associated with criminal behavior are more likely to play a role.” (Pg. 123)They explain, “Islamophobia has taken an even more alarming turn in the charge that Europe is in danger of become Islamized and transformed into a new Muslim stronghold, Eurabia… Is Eurabia really a significant threat? Here again, the tendency to see Muslims as a monolithic block and other myths are trumped by reality. The heart of the myth and fear of Eurabia has to do with Muslim demographics, the potency of Islam in Europe, and the attack and thwarted attacks of militants… But in reality only 4%... of the European union’s population is Muslim. Even if Turkey were admitted to the European Union, something that is not likely in the near future… that would raise the percentage of Muslims to 17%. Most importantly, like other religious and ethnic groups, Europe’s Muslims are not homogeneous. They represent diverse ethnic groups that often have little in common… many do not even practice their religion. That are at best cultural Muslims…” (Pg. 138-140)They summarize, “The problem is not Islam any more than Christianity or Judaism is the cause of extremists and terrorists; it’s the political radicalization of a religion that creates militant theologies. Islam may be a powerful weapon for discrediting terrorists and limiting the growth of terrorism. For example, in Indonesia… those who say that 9/11 was justified cite POLITICAL GRIEVANCES to support their response, not religious justifications.” (Pg. 161)This book (which was published in the aftermath of the continuing Iraq War) will be ‘must reading’ for anyone genuinely interested in the attitudes of Muslims in the Western workd and elsewhere.

Please read this book; -- but not this one alone. This provides a needed part of the picture, but only a part.If, like me, you want to understand how Muslims think, read this and read the Qur'an, and a spectrum of other sources.The most vital message of this book is that military intervention in Muslim countries does not solve problems. It creates them. RIGHT !The US intervened to displace Mossadegh in Iran in 1953, setting the stage for the horrible situation there now. The US tried to oust dictators, and destroyed nations. (Libya, Syria)These interventions supply the prime justification for terrorism.For this, alone, the book is worth reading.A later addition: A more balanced survey, not on Amazon: Muslim Beliefs and Practices: A Global Demographic Assessment. A Pew Research 29 page paper, William DiPuccio. Find it on the net.Problems:This is a Muslim book. Do not expect objectivity. It is designed to make Islam look good. Contrary topics are omitted.In the survey, questions where answers might make Islam look bad were not asked. (Or not used)Islam, as presented here, is far from what an objective reader will find in the Qur'an. You can find what you want, pro or con, by cherry-picking and rationalization, but most important, look for oft-repeated major themes.One them is Muslim superiority, which these authors ignore.The Qur'an is written from a man to men. Rules for using women is one major theme.Honor the prophet or be tortured in hell with no end, no relief. With about 400 warnings (my count) of torture, this must affect the thinking of at least significant numbers of Muslims, including terrorists. How could it not? Weaker promises of paradise cannot kill that effect.Another theme: Believers are given access to view hell, to revel in seeing torture, and taunt the victims. I doubt that any other religion has anything like that. Not even Dante. How can that not dull a sense of compassion in believers?One thing I admire about most Muslims is their eagerness to ignore and rationalize away unwanted major themes and build their lives on much better principles. Most Muslims I have met, or read about, are moral compassionate people. They want to be.Above all these in relevance to peace in the world, ignored by these authors, is the Qur'anic hatred of Jews. Most Muslims do not ignore this, but keep it in thought and action. The survey could have asked about that, and about widespread admiration for Hitler in several Muslim countries. The war against Israel decimated Egypt's economy under Nasser, and is a major drain throughout the Mideast. The best thing Muslim countries could do for themselves is to bring that enmity to an end. They don't need it. Israelites could not be happier to end the need to devote much of their economy to defense. I believe they would then help rebuild a peaceful Palestinian state. The would be to everyone's advantage, worldwide. Qur'anic hate stands in the way.Another book to read about how Muslims think: THE HOUSE I LEFT BEHIND by Daniel Shayesteh. This committed Muslim helped put Khomeini in power, ran for Parliament, and found himself betrayed and had to escape Iran. He pictures remnants of ancient Persian culture to be more attractive than Islam. The Ayatollahs priorities put Islam and the destruction of Israel first, and Iranians last.

Great book great quality

ok read.