Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Prophet of God

This set examines the ways in which Muhammad has influenced Islam and has intersected with people, cultures, and societies outside as well as inside the religion. Editors Fitzpatrick (philosophy, Grand Valley State Univ., Allendale, MI) and Walker (doctoral student, Islamic history, Univ. of Leeds, England), have assembled a wide range of international scholars and experts to elucidate the impact that the prophet's life and views have made on history, culture, and society. Islamic principles such as fiqh (jurisprudence), umma (the Islamic community of believers), and jihad (struggle) are discussed with an emphasis on Muhammad's relationship to these concepts. Other entries deal with his affect on culture, society, and other religions, as in the entries on the European Enlightenment, music, and Jewish- and Christian-Muslim relations. The encyclopedia itself is arranged alphabetically; each summary is signed and includes a bibliography and cross-references (where needed). Articles are well balanced, scholarly, and written in language that will be readily understood by nonspecialists. Black-and-white photos are used judiciously throughout and text boxes highlight issues for more in-depth analysis. A chronology, a guide to related topics, and an alphabetical list of entries appear in the beginning of each book, with the second volume containing a comprehensive index along with a glossary of terms and a general bibliography subdivided by topic.