OPTIMIZATION OF AMERICAN INTERFAITH DIALOGUE BASED ON QURAN AND PROPHETIC TRADITION by HISHAM M. QURESHI (Under the Direction of Alan Godlas) ABSTRACT When national American interests, such as religious freedom and respect for all, are undermined by both "Islamophobic" Americans and "Isolationist" American-Muslims, then Interfaith Dialogue needs to be prioritized and optimized. Unfortunately, American Muslims face several theological, psychological, social, financial, and administrative challenges that limit interfaith dialogue. A literature review guides to Diana Eck's "pluralism" as most conducive environment to prioritize interfaith dialogue. Despite negative perceptions that Islam teaches isolation and exclusion, Quran and Prophetic tradition actually discourages "isolation" and encourages "pluralistic" interfaith dialogue per Diana Eck's definition. While a minority of "literalist" Muslims do practice "isolation," this study shows that majority of Muslims promote “pluralism,” while utilizing 1400 years old "traditional" methodology. Furthermore, a quantitative analysis of Qur’ān shows that while there is no internal priority to proselytize non-Muslims, the priority for developing interfaith relations is just as high as mandatory acts of worship.