A comprehensive introduction to Islam. It covers the origins of Islam, with an explanation of the Koranic law and how it is dispensed. It discusses the breakdown of the Islamic sects and gives an account of the rise of militant Islam in the 20th century. It includes a directory of Islamic nations.
                                                  With over a billion followers, Islam is the world's fastest growing religion and a major global religious and political force in the 21st-century. It is also the subject of much misunderstanding, and many people know little of its origins or principles. 
  
  What is Islam? is the perfect introduction to this important and complex subject. It covers all aspects of the religion in clear and concise chapters, including:
  
  Faith: The origins of Islam, the Koranic law and how it is dispensed
  The Muslim world: A look at Islamic nations and their relative importance
  History: The major events in the history of Islam
  Sects: Islamic sects and the rise of militant Islam in the 20th and 21st centuries 
  
  This indispensable guide remains the definitive introduction to the subject.