“This exceptional book constructs a uniquely comprehensive and dynamic global and historical discourse for defining, interpreting, understanding and appreciating the rich diversity of Islam and Muslims in today’s world. The contributors represent a refreshing range of academic discourses (Political Science, Islamic and Middle East History, Anthropology, Religious Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, African and Asian Studies) which give the book its illuminating contextual and topical authenticity. In addition to its accessibility for the general reading public, it is an ideal textbook for a wide range of academic courses in the social sciences, humanities and beyond, such as geopolitics and environmental studies.”—Frederick Mathewson Denny, University of Colorado at Boulder

"Dynasties, crusades, empires, colonial encounters, state polities and global commerce blend evenly with topics on Islamic thought, jurisprudence, tradition, ethics, and belief and practice. Readers have long awaited such a judicious treatment in a manageable format. And its coverage of Islam in regions like Latin America, Africa, and Central Asia, alongside its discussions on terrorism and violence, Islamophobia, women and human rights, the media and the global expanse of Muslim cultures, easily makes it a major resource both inside and outside the classroom."—Zain Abdullah, Temple University