Sunni Muslims include 84%–90% of all Muslims. Sunni means “tradition,” and Sunnis regard themselves as those who emphasize following the traditions of Muhammad and of the first two generations of the community of Muslims that followed Muhammad. By the same author: The Kite Runnerand And the Mountains Echoed (both also excellent). 13. Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea

In 472 colour illustrations, Birk transcribes the English translation of the Qur’an against images of American life. This beautiful volume is the artist’s interpretation of the sacred text and its relevance for everyday life.By the same author: Islam Under Siege. 4. The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam From the Extremistsby Khaled Abou El Fadl Tariq Ramadan's biography of the Prophet Muhammed is intended for both Muslims and non-Muslims. It offers a new understanding of one the most influential figures in history. Esposito provides clear answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the origins and traditions of Islam. All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

This history book reads like a novel. Perhaps this is not surprising, given the ups, downs, and unexpected twists of Islamic history. Ansary’s goal is to tell world history from a Muslim point of view. Although the West appears sometimes as a bystander, sometimes an antagonist, from the time of Muhammed to the early 2000s the narrative of this book is driven by the Islamic world.

A Muslim is one who follows Islam. In the Arabic language, putting “mu” at the beginning of the word is similar to putting an “er” at the end of the word in English. For example, in English someone who farms is a farmer, someone who works is a worker, and someone who builds is a builder. Similarly in Arabic, someone who does Islam is a Muslim. Who is Allah? A number of movements to reform Islam have originated mainly in the 20th century. Some are limited to one country and others have a broader influence. Most are Sunni movements, such as the Wahhabis, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Jama’at-i-Islami. Shi’ite Muslims comprise 10%–16% of all Muslims. Shi’ites are the “party of ‘Ali,” who believe that Muhammad’s son-in-law ‘Ali was his designated successor (imam) and that the Muslim community should be headed by a designated descendent of Muhammad. Three main subgroups of Shi’ites are Twelvers (Ithna-‘Asharis ), Seveners (Isma’ilis), and Fivers (Zaydis).