Who Speaks For Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think
Gallup Press - Gallup Press
Release date: 2008-02-25
Hardcover
Author: Dalia Mogahed
Islamic Studies, Muslims, Social Science, Sociology, Islam - General, Political Science / Political Freedom & Security / General, Social Science / Islamic Studies, Political Freedom & Security - General, 21st century, Islam, Relations, Social Studies: General
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Who Speaks For Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think
Date undefinedTwo plus two equals four, sugar is sweet, and most Muslim don't want to slit the throats of unbelievers. My guess is that you needed neither this humble reviewer nor the Gallup Organization to convince you of those facts.
So to no one's surprise, when Gallup polled 50,000 Muslims over six years and three continents, and asked them whether they supported violent jihad, the vast majority of respondents -- 93 percent -- said no. For argument's sake, let's assume that percentage to be correct, despite the nagging suspicion that not all backers of jihad would readily cop to their true sympathies when pressed on the subject by a U.S.-dispatched stranger with a clipboard.
The happy finding was cause for much rejoicing in Western media, which, in reporting on the poll, virtually belted out whatever the Arabic equivalent of Kumbayah is (Kumb-allah, maybe).
The study, which Gallup says surveyed a sample equivalent to 90 percent of the world's Muslims, showed that widespread religiosity "does not translate into widespread support for terrorism," said Dalia Mogahed, director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies.
About 93 percent of the world's 1.3 billion Muslims are moderates and only seven percent are politically radical, according to the poll, based on more than 50,000 interviews.
Wow. Only seven percent. That's fantastic. Nothing to worry about, then.
Only 91 million Bin Laden aficionados who cackle at the murders of Jews, Christians, atheists, apostates, artists, and authors.
Only 91 million devotees of stoning adulterers and insufficiently covered womenfolk.
Only 91 million religion-of-peace worshippers ready to either slay Danish blasphemists or celebrate such butchery.
Only 91 million would-be warriors so steeped in spirituality that they cheer when airliners piloted by their brethren slam into office towers, and when bombs placed by their co-religionists literally rip the limbs of off clubgoers in Bali and train travelers in Madrid.
What an encouraging number. I'm hugely relieved, really. How about you?
Who Speaks For Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think
Date undefinedThis book give a great insight into the versitality of muslim culture and traditions through out the world, in their own words. It is a balanced, statisitical review of what , as the title of the book implies, muslims actually say, millions of them all over the world including US, rather than a maginfied version of one event, totally hyped into a controversy by our powerful, sometimes "not so accurate" media. A book like this was long awaited by a moderately thinking mind like me, who knows the fundamentals of Islam but does not like to be called "fundamentalist" as knowing Islam taught me how fundmantally wrong I am to judge billions, be they muslims, christians, or Jewish, based on the actions of so few... Islam means peace, practical peace, not just a slogan, and reading this book will facilitate understanding of this basic concept ...through words of common people like you and I.
Who Speaks For Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think
Date undefinedThis book summarizes the information gained from the Gallup World Poll's massive multiyear research study of the opinions of tens of thousands of Muslims in more than 35 countries. The information is presented clearly and succinctly, addressing the questions most frequently asked by Westerners unfamiliar with Islam. The authors appear to have no hidden agenda but simply present their findings. An appendix describes the methodology used. An excellent resource for a dangerous period of history.
