Why do some Muslims like Americans?

Answer 1

Not all Muslims like Americans, but those who do, do so for several distinct reasons (other than just being decent people):

Living in America: There are over 2 million American Muslims and numerous Muslim Non-Citizens who live or work in America. As a result, they have friendly relations with Americans and like them. American Muslims participate in the military as well, especially Muslims who are immigrants or descend from them (as opposed to Americans who convert to Islam or their descendants).

Freedom of Religion: Oftentimes, Muslims find that they are more able to believe in Islam, as they understand the faith, in the United States than in Muslim-majority countries. In those countries, the diversity within the Muslim community is directly controlled and people lack the right to determine how modern, developed, or open their faith can be. American Religious Freedoms allow Muslims to express Islam as they see fit. It is telling that the most liberal branches of Islam, such as those of Tawfik Hamid, Zuhdi Jasser, Irshad Manji, and Tarek Fatah are all based in the US or Canada and not in the much larger Muslim populations of the Old World.

Experiences: Many Muslims outside of America have worked with Americans or befriended Americans. This can happen through tourism, education exchange, business negotiations, or simple happenstance. These individual meetings may give a Muslim greater insight about what Americans are and what they believe, leading to less animosity.

Different From Government: Outside of the United States, most people make a clear distinction between the population of a country and the views of its government. This is particularly common in Muslim-majority countries where the authoritarian rulers are not representative of the general population. As a result, Muslims do not attribute the negative views that they may have of the US Government, especially concerning US Foreign Policy, to the individual US citizens and be more able to empathize with them.

American Religiosity:Americans, in contrast to Europeans, are rather religious and this mutual respect for God and religion makes Muslims much more at home in the United States than in the largely-Atheistic Europe. Muslims often find it easier to explain themselves to Christians who have the same level of piety as they do and respect those same Christians and their beliefs.

Television and Products:US Media and Products are ubiquitous across the world and many Muslims like America simply because they listen to American Music, dress in American fashions, eat American Foods, and watch American movies.

Science and Development:Muslims who are more scientifically-minded like America because of the constant, exciting stream of US development and the possible opportunity to do scientific research and work there. Muslims who are interested in the engine of progress and development like to see the people and places that make it possible.

Work and Jobs: The United States offers a very diverse set of employment opportunities and a number of Muslims are attracted by the economic benefits of working in the United States.