In recent years there has been a great interest in Islam and the more than 1.6 billion people around the world who practice this religion. Islam: Core Beliefs and Practices provides an overview of this major world religion that will help readers to understand what Muslims believe and value, as well as how Muslims practice their faith in their everyday lives. The book provides the historical background of Islam’s emergence on the Arabian Peninsula during the seventh century and traces the spread of the faith throughout the world during the centuries that followed, along with information about the major Islamic sects, an explanation of Islamic laws and practices, details of important Islamic celebrations and festivals, and a discussion of important issues that Muslims face today. Each title in this series contains color photos throughout, maps, and back matter including: a chronology, a detailed index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Text Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader’s comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader’s knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.
