The Britannica Guide to Islam tracks the long and illustrious history of the Islamic faith through the age of the caliphates, the Islamic golden age, the Ottoman Empire, and into the twenty-first century. It also examines the impact of Islamic beliefs and thought, literature, and art and architecture, providing a complete guide to this often-misunderstood religion.

Table of Contents

• The Foundations of Islam and Islamic Thought
• Introduction
• Islamic Doctrine
• Fundamental Practices and Institutions
• Islamic Theology
• Islamic Philosophy
• Islamic Social and Ethical Principles
• Conclusion
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• Islamic Art and Architecture
• Introduction
• Origins
• The Early Period
• Middle Period
• Late Period to the Present Day
• Conclusion
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• Islamic Literature
• Introduction
• The Range of Islamic Literatures
• The Forms of Islamic Literature
• The Roots of Islamic Literature
• Early Islamic Literature
• Middle Period: the Rise of Persian and Turkish Poetry
• The Period from 1500 to 1800
• The Emergence of Western Forms
• The Modern Period
• Conclusion
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• The Islamic World from 1041 to the Present
• Introduction
• Migration and Renewal (1041–1405)
• Consolidation and Expansion (1405–1683)
• Precolonial Reform and Dependency (1683 to the Early 20th Century)
• Revival and Globalization (The Early 20th Century to the Present)
• Conclusion
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• The Islamic World to 1041
• Introduction
• Prehistory (c. 3000 BCE–500 CE)
• Formation and Orientation (c. 500–634)
• Conversion and Crystallization (634–870)
• Fragmentation and Florescence (870–1041)
• Conclusion
• Glossary
• Bibliography