The Historical Dictionary of Islam [Hardcover]

Ludwig W. Adamec (Author)

Book Description

Series: Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies and Movements | Publication Date: February 28, 2001

The Historical Dictionary of Islam is a handy reference for anyone requiring information on the Islamic religion and culture. It outlines the development of Islam from its beginnings in Mecca and Medina to its growth into a major world religion today. A comprehensive bibliography will guide the serious student for further research.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Adamec (Middle Eastern studies, Univ. of Arizona), director of the Near Eastern Center for a decade, is a widely known authority on Afghanistan who has published many books and articles. The volumes in this Scarecrow series have varied in quality, but this dictionary fares well. Its clear, concise entries give basic facts, organized under headings in English, when available, rather than in Arabic. The book includes a chronology, an accessible historical introduction, and a considerable bibliography arranged by broad categories. Unfortunately, the book has a few drawbacks: some topics are missing (e.g., "Qa'im," similar to Mahdi); the need to compress sometimes distorts a subject, as in the article on Bab; and there is only one map. While larger libraries should be sure that they also have larger reference works on Islam (e.g., Encyclopaedia of Islam, Brill Academic; Encyclopaedia Iranica, Mazda), this book is a good acquisition for most public libraries and a useful supplementary quick reference for academic libraries. William P. Collins, Library of Congress

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

From theological, political, and cultural corners, there is a growing demand from student and layperson alike for clear, well-informed, and up-to-date information on the topic of Islam. The latest addition to the Scarecrow Press Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements series effectively fills this need. With the inclusion of copious entries from all over the Islamic historical spectrum, author Adamec presents Islam as the complex, diverse religion that it is and not as the monolithic, antiprogressive entity it is sometimes viewed as by many in the West. An update to the 2001 edition, this alphabetically arranged, cross-referenced volume touches on various topics and figures from Islamic history, philosophy, and religion as well as the position of Islam in the modern political world. Included among the generally concise, well-written, and engaging entries are numerous biographies for cultural, religious, legal, and political leaders. A succinct chronology and edifying introduction both provide the necessary background information and place entries within the proper historical context. Adamec has skillfully navigated the tricky issue of Arabic terminology by providing main entries in English (where possible) with their Arabic equivalent (for example, Pilgrimage. “Hajj”). A major highlight of the work is the extensive categorized bibliography consisting of books and articles from the field of Islamic studies. Overall, this volume serves as an excellent pathfinder for both scholars and those with no prior knowledge of the subject. Academic and larger public libraries should consider adding this title even if they already have works such as The Oxford Dictionary of Islam (2004) and The Penguin Dictionary of Islam (2008). --Brian Odom --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.; First Edition edition (February 28, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810839628
• ISBN-13: 978-0810839625
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #565,768 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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