The Oxford encyclopedia of the Islamic world /

This six-volume reworking of the four-volume The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World (1995), ed. by John Esposito, updates historical articles (especially in the light of 9/11), adds new topics (al-Qa'idah), and greatly lengthens some others (cinema). Other areas, including an article on numerology, are unchanged (in this instance due to the death of the original article's author, though the bibliography has been augmented). Although additional pictorial items appear in this version, some illustrative materials have been deleted that were in the earlier one and could have done a great service to the reader, as in the discussion of calligraphy and epigraphy. Presumably for editorial reasons, separate articles on ethnic entities such as the Uighurs and the Tuareg do not appear; rather, such groups are treated either geographically (Uighurs /Xinjiang) or subsumed under larger groupings (Tuareg/Berbers). Although the primary focus of this encyclopedia is not theological, the topic of sin receives more than passing notice, as does the literary phenomenon of the Hadith; the Qur'an and its interpretation deservedly receive their due. As for modern sociological phenomena, anti-Muslim prejudice is extensively discussed, whereas antisemitism appears to be mentioned on only one page in the entire set. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above. S. P. Blackburn Hartford Seminary

The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World is an expansion of an earlier work with a very similar title, The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World, published in 1995. While the earlier work sought to provide reliable information on modern Muslim politics and societies, this new set includes not only the majority of entries from its predecessor but also extensive coverage of religious and historical background extending back to the beginnings of Islam. The religious dimensions of Islam are described in carryover articles on the Pillars of Islam and Theology along with new entries for Heaven, Hell, and Mary, mother of Jesus, who holds a position of esteem in Islam. Important historical figures, such as Abu Bakr, successor to the Prophet; the mystic Husayn ibn Mansur al-Hallaj; and the Ottoman caliph Sulayman the Magnificent, have been added. There is an interesting new survey article on Homosexuality. Important historical events, such as Camel, Battle of the and the Seyh Said rebellion, are also part of the new content. New material isn't limited to the religious or historical. There are new entries for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the current president of Iran; Benazir Bhutto, the assassinated prime minister of Pakistan; September 11th; Suicide bombings; Taliban; and Talibanization. And many of the entries from the older work have been updated, including the survey on Christianity and Islam, the entry for Hamas, and the article describing Islamic studies. The preface claims that this new work fills the demand for accurate, concise, and accessible information on Islam and the Islamic world, and one would be hard-pressed to argue with that. So, too, does another recent set with a confusingly similar title, namely, the Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World (Macmillan, 2004). Although there is a tremendous amount of overlap, both works also complement each other rather well. Subscribers to Oxford Islamic Studies Online should note that the database now includes the material in the print Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World, which is recommended for academic and large public libraries.--McConnell, Christopher Copyright 2010 Booklist

One of the world's foremost Islamic studies scholars, Esposito (religion & international affairs, Georgetown Univ.) has substantially updated Oxford's highly regarded Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World from 1995. This six-volume set not only concentrates on the modern Muslim world, as did its predecessor, but it has also been expanded to include religious and historical background on Islam going back to its inception, plus Muslim communities in regions outside of traditional Islamic spheres (e.g., North America and Europe). Thoroughly revised, the encyclopedia's 1050 A-to-Z entries, written by an international community of 550 scholars, cover such topics as history, geography, law, religious belief, culture, politics, economics, and mysticism. All articles are signed and range in length from short essays to lengthy commentaries on important topics (e.g., "Sunni and Shi'i Islam," "The Qur'an"). Terms are given in the original Arabic with English translations where needed. Written in clear, jargon-free language, this is a balanced, well-rounded, and evenhanded resource for both scholars and general readers interested in understanding Islam and its place in the world. Bottom Line While Brill's Encyclopedia of Islam remains the standard reference work in the field, its slow production and immense cost make this a far more reasonable option for many libraries. Highly recommended for all academic and public libraries; essential for religion collections.-Amanda K. Sprochi, Univ. of Missouri Lib., Columbia (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.