Is Obama a Muslim? You Decide. Why was Obama's first interview given to Al-Arabiya, a Saudi owned Arab news network? In the following interview, Obama stated, “I have Muslims in my own family. I have lived in Muslim countries. …..And America’s a country of Muslims, Jews, Christians, and nonbelievers. …….And my job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives.”