Are we on the verge of an all-out war between the West and 1.3 billion Muslims? When the media searches for an answer to that question, they usually overlook the actual views of the worlds Muslims.

Who Speaks for Islam? is about this silenced majority. This book is the product of the Gallup World Polls massive, multiyear research study. .

As part of this groundbreaking project, Gallup conducted tens of thousands of interviews with residents of more than 35 nations that are predominantly Muslim or have significant Muslim populations..

Gallup posed questions that are on the minds of millions: Is Islam to blame for terrorism? Why is there so much anti-Americanism in the Muslim world? Who are the extremists? Where are the moderates? What do Muslim women really want?.

Grounded in Gallup World Poll data, not in contentious rhetoric, Who Speaks for Islam? brings data-driven evidence -- the voices of a billion Muslims, not those of individual "experts" or "extremists" -- to one of the most heated and consequential debates of our time.

Counterintuitive Discoveries in Who Speaks for Islam?.

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 dont 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 equal rights and religion in their societies.

Respect.

Muslims around the world 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.

Clerics and constitutions.

The majority of those surveyed want religious leaders to have no direct role in crafting a constitution, yet favor religious law as a source of legislation.