Religious Studies: Islam

The Encyclopaedia of Islam is the premier reference resource for studying the Islamic world. Work on the 13 volumes of the second edition began in 1954 but did not conclude until 2005. Entries are detailed and typically contain a bibliography for further study. Both the first and second editions of the Encyclopaedia are accessible electronically through Brill Reference Online. Work has recently began on a third edition of the Encyclopaedia. It is currently in its very early stages and is very incomplete. However, because it contains the most recent scholarship, consider searching it for information. New articles are being added to the third edition regularly.

Although it lacks the scope of the Encyclopaedia of Islam, the Concise Encyclopaedia of Islam is a great reference work on Islam. Published in 2008, it provides recent scholarship on major topics in Islam. Although individual entries do not have references, there is a general bibliography at the end of the text. Additionally, the Encyclopaedia also contains multiple appendices with maps of both the historical and modern Islamic world, genealogical tables for major families in Islam, and an extensive chronology of Islam up through 2007.

The Encyclopaedia of the Qurʾān is a five-volume reference work dedicated to the sacred text of Islam. The work covers major themes, cultures, concepts, places, and people featured in the Qurʾān. It also devotes considerable attention to commentary and interpretation of the Qurʾān over time. Bibliographies are provided with each entry for further research as well. This is an excellent resource to consult when performing research related to the Qurʾān. Also available electronically.

This six-volume encyclopedia provides coverage of the Islamic world, including its culture, politics, and religion, from the inception of Islam to present day. The "Islamic World" covers not only the Middle East and Southeast Asia, but also discusses the role Islam plays all across the world. Bibliographies are provided for articles allowing for further research. This is a great resource for studying Islamic culture and institutions, though it may not go as in-depth as the Encyclopedia of Islam on theological beliefs.

This three volume reference work provides information on texts which addressed or impacted Christian-Muslim relations over the years of 600-1500. Articles provide brief descriptions of the texts, their authors, and provide information on primary and secondary resources concerning these texts. Entries are organized chronologically, so if you are searching for a specific text it may be helpful to use the index. Further bibliographies are planned to address Christian-Muslim relations from 1500 into the present, but they are not yet available. Also available electronically.