An Introduction to Islam in the 21st Century, First Edition. Edited by Aminah Beverly McCloud, Scott W. Hibbard, and Laith Saud. © 2013 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Published 2013 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Outline Introduction 3 Image and Reality 4 Organization of the Text 7 Discussion Questions 12 Sidebars 1.1 Sources for population information 5 1.2 Countries with the largest Muslim populations 5 Introduction Aminah Beverly McCloud, Scott W. Hibbard, and Laith Saud Introduction This text provides an introduction to Islam that begins its inquiry with the social and political realities that inform 21st-century Islamic practice. It is consciously global in perspective, and seeks to capture the diversity of Islam as it manifests in different regions and countries. The book also examines the different interpreta- tions and debates that characterize the tradition, both yesterday and today. Like other textbooks, it addresses what are traditionally seen as the historical contexts in which Islam emerged, and the core elements of the tradition. However, the book seeks to move beyond these basic topics, and address issues that are not typ- ically covered, such as the ideas and practices of Islam in different regions and countries, the phenomenon of militancy, Islamophobia, and the teaching of Islam in the West, among other issues. 1 COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL