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The one god The meaning of Islam The way to become a Muslim Monotheism before Islam Jews and Christians in Arabia Muslims' faith in the one god The nature of the one god God's claims on all humanity. The holy Quran Muhammad's experience The text of the Quran Translations of the Quran A suggestion as to how to read the Quran in translation Humanity's duty to God in the Quran Our duty to our neighbor in the Quran. The prophet Muhammad The role of the prophet Muhammad's early life Muhammad's call to prophethood opposition to the Early Muslims The emigration to Medina the community at Medina The fall of Mecca Muhammad as a ruler. The community of Muslims The spread of Islam The military achievement The organization of the community The schools of law Orthodox theology as a cement The orthodox position. The contribution of individuals and minority groups The role of the individual in Sunni Islam The Golden age of Islam The philosophers The mystics The mystical orders Al-Ghazali The Shiis Non-Muslims under Muslim Rule. Successes and disappointments in Islamic history Ideal and practice The decline of the Caliphate Nizam al-Mulk The crusades The Mongol invasion The medieval empires of Islam The expansion of Islam into Africa and south east Asia. Modern Muslims' hopes for the future Memories of past glories The traditionalists The modernists The secularists Future prospects for Islam.

One cannot understand the Middles East and its dynamic apart from Islam, the faith that motivates and guides the lives of more than 90 percent of the people who live there. The world of Islam offers a brief and concise introduction to this faith, which, although born in the Arab world, now has its largest number of adherents in Asia and Africa, with growing communities in both Europe and North America.