Encyclopedia of Islam & the Muslim World [LARGE PRINT] (Hardcover)

~ Richard C. Martin (Editor), Said Amir Arjomand (Editor), Marcia Hermansen (Editor), Abdulkader Tayob (Editor), Rochelle Davis (Editor), John Obert Voll (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The reference literature for Islam has long consisted of either a densely academic, multivolume encyclopedia or several, often specialized, single-volume works with brief definitions. Happily, there is now a reference work falling between these two extremes. The Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World is a scholarly work "about Islamic cultures, religion, history, politics, and the like as well as the people who have identified with Islam over the past fourteen centuries."

A team of international scholars is responsible for the 515 entries, which are arranged alphabetically and range from 200 to 5,000 words in length. Many include some sort of illustration and end with helpful see also references and excellent supplemental bibliographies. A useful index completes the set. Coverage includes the religious dimensions of Islam as well as the development of the tradition in various parts of the world (e.g., Africa, South Asia, U.S.). Cultural issues of importance to the history of Islam (e.g., architecture, calligraphy, language) are also treated. Entries such as Political organization and Political thought demonstrate the historical completeness for which the encyclopedia strives, tracing developments from the life of the Prophet to the present day. Even topics of contemporary interest include a historical perspective. The entry for Jihad describes the many meanings of the term, including its contemporary association with violence, and how the concept has developed historically. The treatment of secularization in the Muslim world includes a comparison to historical events in the West, thereby helping the reader to understand that it cannot be understood solely from a Western perspective. Finally, the biographical entries include important figures from the religious, cultural, and political history of the Muslim world.

The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World (1995) is close in spirit and size (four volumes) to this new work, but its coverage includes far less of historical figures and events. The Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World, on the other hand, "seeks to contextualize contemporary Islam within the longer history of Islam." As such, it can easily serve as a standard reference source with its scholarly, yet accessible, content. Highly recommend for academic and large public libraries. RBB
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Review

"Highly recommended for academic and public libraries."
--"Lawrence Looks at Books on gale.com" (April 2004)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1000 pages
• Publisher: Gacl (December 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028656032
• ISBN-13: 978-0028656038
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.7 x 2.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #798,020 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Islam Muslim Encyclopedia 2004, October 11, 2009

By	William Garrison Jr. (Bellevue, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Initially I had my doubts as to how objective this encyclopedia might be: would it be merely an `apologetic' tome by Islamic writers, or might it provide some `objective' analysis through the toleration of some `Orrientalist' questioning? Sometimes I was a little puzzled by its layout. To find something about the Kaaba, this topic is not listed anywhere in the "K" chapter, but instead under `Pilgrimage' - as is the `Hajj.' Pertaining to the Qibla, it notes: `The Meccan sanctuary became the qibla again in 624 c.e. when an important change in Muhammad's attitude towards the Jews occurred' - what `change' might that be goes unanswered (for that answer, you need to see Robert Spencer's `The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Koran'). Nonetheless, the sections pertaining to the Quran and Polygamy are fairly objective with some introspect provided (although nothing is stated as to how/when/who finally compiled the Quran). About half of the articles are written by Arab/Muslim-sounding names (from many different domestic and foreign universities), and other writers surprisingly provided references to: Richard Bell, Kenneth Cragg, Patricia Crone, Arthur Jeffrey, Bernard Lewis, J. Wansbrough, W. Montgomery Watt, and other western-oriented `Orrientalists' who have questioned Islamic mythology. Very informative, very well written, scholarly - not just `lite' fluffy analysis. The topics of "Israel" and "Palestine" are avoided; there are more references to the 'PLO' than to 'Israel'. "Jihad" is discussed in both of its `religious struggle in understanding Allah' and well as its `warfare offensive' perspectives (although not as open as JIHAD WATCH might prefer). I am very happy to have this 2 vols, 823-page set in my library.