With nearly 1500 rich years of history and culture to its name, Islam is one of the world's great faiths and, in modern times, the subject of increasingly passionate debate by believers and non-believers alike. Islam: The Basics is a concise and timely introduction to all aspects of Muslim belief and practice. Topics covered include: The Koran and its teachings; The life of the Prophet Muhammad; Women in Islam; Sufism and Shi'ism; Islam and the modern world; and, Non-Muslim approaches to Islam. Complete with a glossary of terms, pointers to further reading and a chronology of key dates, Islam: The Basics provides an invaluable overview of the history and the contemporary relevance of this always fascinating and important subject.