Taking the Mystery Out of Islam: Volume I

In both scholarly and popular journals, Islam has been described as homogeneous, monolithic, and purposeful, with an ideology determined to overthrow or undermine Western political institutions and democratic systems. In particular, Arab Muslims, who constitute just 20 percent of the one billion Muslims worldwide, have received special attention as putative authoritarians and potential terrorists.

In this Special Collection from The World & I, contributors adopt an approach markedly different from that those who identify the contemporary Islamic revival as a major, exigent threat. The eminent specialists in these pages explicate their subject matter from within, and facilitate an understanding of Islam as a monotheistic and universalistic religion intimately related to Judaism and Christianity.

Essays include an examination of the basic tenants of Islam, an analysis of the Islamic approach to development, an exploration of the role of literature in Islam, and an explanation of women's important role in the Islamic past, present and future.