Islam

The purpose of this entry is to illustrate a composite and plural socio-religious reality such as that of Islam and Muslims. Too often it is a religion almost exclusively linked to news events concerning terrorist-type actions or to contexts in which there are political crises, or even ongoing war conflicts. Nonetheless, considering the main theme of this encyclopedia, both the historical and religious aspects will be illustrated, in order to provide a tool for deepening Islamic finance and economics. Indeed, this monotheistic faith tradition, although originated in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula where presented itself as a divine challenge to tribal polytheistic cults, had an exceptionally rapid expansion, from the Atlantic to China. This spread involved different peoples, ethnic groups, languages, religions, cultural traditions, etc. which made Islam what it is, despite the process of Islamization and, in many case, of Arabization. The fact remains that the historical process of Islam is intimately linked to the history of the Qur’anic text, the cornerstone of all Muslims around the world.