Table of Contents

1. Muhammad and the Quran: Messenger and Message; 2. The Muslim Community in History; 3. Religious Life: Belief and Practice; 4. Modern Interpretations of Islam; 5. Contemporary Islam: Religion and Politics; 6. Islam and Change: Issues of Authority and Interpretation; 7. Epilogue

Reviews

Praise for previous editions: "The answer to every teacher's prayer for an informed and balanced introductory book. Elegantly written, beautifully synthesized, and helpful."--Leila Fawaz, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy"A splendid introduction to Islam. Esposito paints over a wide canvas in depicting the emergence of the Muslim community, the varieties of Muslim beliefs and practices, the tensions between tradition and modernity, and the Islamic resurgence of recent years...A timely gem."--Philip Khoury, Massachusetts Institute of Technology"The best and most obvious choice for courses on Islam, Islamic history, and Middle Eastern history. Well-written and accessible to undergraduates. The best English language text on Islam."--Robert S. Kramer, St. Norbert College"One of the best introductory texts on Islam and the Islamic world. I think the book's greatest strength is that it's written in a way that is comprehensible and easily accessible without compromising substance."--Ibrahim Kalim, College of the Holy Cross