The first edition of the Encyclopaedia won worldwide acclaim. As a western scholar of the Islamic faith, Cyril Glassé straddle both cultures and has a respect for and an understanding of both the currrent Islamic world and its complex past. This unique single-volume work covers the contemporary Islamic scene, which includes a substantial entry on the Taliban. This new edition also contains an extensively revised chronology which spans the history of Islam, from its origins through developments in the Muslim world today.