I loved the show for one....

It was not the best portrayal of all the Muslims in America, but it could not have been any better.

Let me first clarify that there is a massive difference between 'representing Islam' and 'representing Muslims'. Many people here are assuming these 5 families to represent Islam. This is a very wrong assumption. NO ONE can claim to be a true representative of Islam. Even a 'good representative' is hard to find. Hypothetically Islam has got 73 sects. Sunnis alone have many many sects with each sect having a different praying style, let alone the divisions among Shias.

So the show is just to represent 5 Muslim-American families who follow their faith with VARYING degree...and how their INDIVIDUAL values affect their lifestyle.

When I say there couldnt have been better representation, I am claiming it on the basis that Muslims like any other group is a diverse religious group. Even in the same family, each member follows the faith with such variance that it is hard to imagine the diversity in Muslim world. It is good they stick to families of single origin (Lebanon) and a single sect (Twelver Shias). If they had tried to show other sects or even Muslims of other origins, people would have ended up stereotyping each sect, or Muslims of particular geographical background. It is extremely important to note that lot of times individual practices are also influenced by the local culture back home.

Coming finally to the title, I loved the show for many reasons. I am yet to watch the last 2 episodes, but it was refreshing to see all the characters up till now. As a Pakistani I was happy to see ordinary Americans living their daily lives. Whether it was their passion for sports, passion for families, love for each other, even their minor skirmishes, their disagreements, love for animals, loyalty to their country, their minor joys about kids, their sorrows about innocent dying in shoot out, their mourning, their celebrations, their weddings, their festivals...I can go on and on.

I do not exactly know the problems they have to face wrt their identity as American Muslims, but I am sure the show will help others to understand them and embrace them.