With more than a billion followers, Islam is the world's fastest-growing religion and a major global religious and political force in the 21st century. It is also the subject of much misunderstanding, and many people know little of its origins or principles. Here is the perfect introduction to this important and complex subject, covering all aspects of the religion including its origin, the Koranic law, a look at Islamic nations and their relative importance, major events in the history of Islam, and Islamic sects and the rise of militant Islam in the 20th and 21st centuries. This indispensable guide remains the definitive introduction to the subject.