Muslim's perception of the United States of America: The case of Said Nursi.

This article examines the meaning and mission of the United States for Islam and Muslims through the views of Said Nursi, an influential Islamic scholar and Quran commentator. Nursi's perspective highlights America's positive role in supporting the decolonization of Islamic countries during the Cold War and envisions the U.S. as a unique environment conducive to Christian-Muslim alliance and interfaith dialogue, grounded in religious freedom and pluralism. He advocates for cooperation between Muslims and Christians against ideological threats, emphasizing spiritual unity rather than political rivalry, and foresees America potentially fostering an "Islamic state" understood as a society where Islamic values and freedoms flourish. While Nursi's approach contrasts with polarized views of America in the Islamic world, his call for dialogue and alliance remains relevant for contemporary interreligious understanding and peacebuilding.