Just what is Islam and what does it mean to be a Muslim in the world
today? Since the events of 9/11 and 7/7, Islam has become one of the
most controversial and misunderstood religions in the world.
Introducing Islam encourages students to put aside their
preconceptions and explore this fascinating religion.
William Shepard traces the history of Islam from its origins in the life
and career of Mohammed, through its classical expressions, to its
interactions with the West in the modern world. A chapter is devoted to
each major topic, including The Quran, Islamic law, Islamic theology,
and the Sufi movement, as well as community rituals and Islamic art and
culture. There is a survey of modern developments and four chapters are
dedicated to individual countries, Turkey, Iran, Egypt and Indonesia.
Fully revised and updated, the second edition of this core textbook adds
crucial material on contemporary issues such as women in Islam and
democratization and human rights. Illustrated throughout, the book also
includes learning objectives, a glossary of key Arabic terms,
comprehensive further reading lists and critical thinking boxes, helping
students to critically engage with the material in each chapter. Further
teaching and learning resources are available on the companion website
at www.routledge.com/cw/shepard .This book continues to be essential
reading for students of Islam worldwide.
