Aminah Beverly McCloud & Scott W. Hibbard 
An Introduction to Islam in the 21st Century 

This engaging introduction to Islam examines its lived reality,
its worldwide presence, and the variety of beliefs and practices
encompassed by the religion. The global perspective uniquely
captures the diversity of Islam expressed throughout different
countries in the present day.

* A comprehensive, multi-disciplinary, and global introduction to
Islam, covering its history as well as current issues, experiences,
and challenges

* Incorporates key new research on Muslims from a variety of
countries across Europe, Latin America, Indonesia, and Malaysia
Central Asia

* Directly addresses controversial issues, including political
violence and ‘terrorism’, anti-western sentiments, and
Islamophobia

* Explores different responses from various Islamic communities
to globalizing trends

* Highlights key patterns within Islamic history that shed light
upon the origins and evolution of current movements and
thought

Table of Content

Notes on Contributors xv

Acknowledgments xviii

Part I Overview: Islam: Image and Reality 1

1 Introduction 3
Aminah Beverly Mc Cloud, Scott W. Hibbard, and Laith Saud

2 The Historical Context 13
Aminah Beverly Mc Cloud, Scott W. Hibbard, and Laith Saud

3 Religious Structures: Tawhid 31
Laith Saud

4 Islamic Beliefs: The Development of Islamic Ideas 51
Laith Saud

5 Islamic Political Theology 81
Laith Saud

Part II Islam and the Modern World 109

6 Islam and the State: Part I 111
Scott W. Hibbard

7 Islam and the State: Part II 135
Scott W. Hibbard

8 Muslims as Minorities in the West 157
Aminah Beverly Mc Cloud

Part III Regional Studies 171

9 Islam in Africa 173
Babacar Mbengue

10 Islam in South Asia 203
Saeed A. Khan

11 Islam in Central Asia 217
Maria Louw

12 Islam in Indonesia and Malaysia 233
Aminah Beverly Mc Cloud

13 Muslim Histories in Latin America and the Caribbean 249
John Tofik Karam

Part IV Islam in a Globalized World 269

14 The Ecology of Teaching about Islam and Muslims in the 21st Century 271
Aminah Beverly Mc Cloud

15 Terrorism, Islamophobia, and the Media 285
Scott W. Hibbard

Conclusion: Image and Reality Reconsidered 309
Aminah Beverly Mc Cloud, Scott W. Hibbard, and Laith Saud

Index 315

About the author

Aminah Beverly Mc Cloud is Professor of Islamic Studies in the Department of Religious Studies at De Paul University and the Director of the Islamic World Studies Program.

Scott Hibbard is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at De Paul University. He was previously Program Officer for the Special Initiative on Religion, Ethics and Human Rights at the United States Institute for Peace.

Laith Al-Saud is Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at De Paul University, and an expert on Middle East politics.