Introduction

This book is primarily intended for undergraduate students enrolled in courses on Islam, Muslim societies, Islamic thought and religious studies, as well as for general readers. It should be regarded as an introduction to Islamic thought. It does not focus on one single aspect of thought; instead, it deals with a range of areas of Islamic thought from the foundation texts to law, theology, philosophy, politics, art and mysticism as well as key trends of Islamic thought in both the pre-modern and modern periods. This book is not a history of Islam, Islamic culture or Islamic civilization. Its primary focus is on Muslim doctrines, the development, production and transmission of religious knowledge, and the key trends, schools and movements that have contributed to the production of this knowledge.