As the fastest growing religion in the United States and the dominant religion in a wide expanse of territory extending across Africa, Asia, the Balkans and Southern Russia, Islam is an increasingly important force in the modern world. Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World looks at Islam's role in the modern world, doing so in the context of the religion's history and development over the last 13 centuries. Containing thematic articles, biographies of key figures, definitions, illustrations, maps and more, this new encyclopedia fills a need in this key area of religious studies.