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Gallup Center for Muslim Studies Shares What Americans Think of Muslims

Dalia Mogahed, Director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, conducted a poll in late fall of 2009 to discover how Americans really felt about Islam and Muslims.  The poll discovered a number of very interesting conclusions.  While the poll asked Americans about their views towards Muslims, Christians, Jews and Buddhists, the religion viewed with the least favor by Americans was Islam.  Fifty three percent of Americans view Islam unfavorably.  The strongest predictor of a respondent’s negative attitude towards Islam was whether they also showed disfavor towards Jews.  

The poll discovered that of all religious groups, Muslims are most likely to suffer discrimination, by wide margins. This brings great incentive to ISNA and other organizations that work daily with other faith groups to promote peace throughout our entire nation to continue this very important work.

Some interesting discoveries were also made through this poll.  Although stories of disputes between other religious groups and Muslims can be found in international and national media, the poll discovered that Americans who attend a religious service at least once a week are more likely to view Muslims in a favorable light. Finally, the poll discovered that as Americans received education about Islam, their perceptions of Islam became more positive and their prejudice of Islam and Muslims decreased.  

One of the top three priorities outlined by Muslims at the 2009 Annual ISNA Convention in Washington D.C. was for ISNA to provide more opportunities to educate the public about Islam.  The Gallup Poll and the survey given at the ISNA convention provide strong incentive for all Muslims to continue reaching out to community members to educate people about Islam.   

To view the poll results, please click here.