has long been considered one of the best books for gaining an understanding of modern Islam. In this updated edition, Islamic expert Malise Ruthven adds a new preface and new chapters analyzing the major issues of today, including the impact of 9/11, the meaning of "the war on terror," and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. New material also explains important differences within Islam that many Westerners are just beginning to learn about, including the rivalry between Sunnis and Shias, the relationship between Sufism and modern Islamism and the debates about democracy raging throughout the Muslim Word. This invaluable introductory guide presents a full overview of Islam in its historical, geographic, and social settings and explains how the quest for spiritual fulfillment is inevitably bound up with political aspirations.