The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World

John L. Esposito is Professor of Religion and International Affairs and Founding Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University. A past president of the Middle East Studies Association, he is the author of numerous books on the Muslim world, and is the preeminent Islamic Studies scholar.

"Written in clear, jargon-free language, this is a balanced, well-rounded, and evenhanded resource for both scholars and general readers interested in understanding Islam and its place in the world . . . Highly recommended for all academic and public libraries; essential for religion collections."--Amanda K. Sprochi, Library Journal"The topics are well chosen and highly informative, offering lucid analyses of complex concepts that many users will be unfamiliar with."--College & Research Libraries News"An outstanding feature is the encyclopedia's accessibility to the educated general public. In four volumes, with entries arranged alphabetically, we have a clear overview of the whole edifice of modern Islam. Another merit is the comprehensive coverage of Islamic movements worldwide, for the first time....A virtually comprehensive reference work enabling the reader to understand the current Muslim predicament as it has been shaped by events in the past threecenturies."--The Times Higher Education Supplement" . . . a valuable resource for both the specialist as well as the general reader. I would recommend it to not only libraries, but also to individuals engaged in serious research on contemporary Islam and Muslims."--Muhammed Hassanali, American Reference Books Annual