Features
What Is in this Book?
Encountering the World of Islam is a helpful guide to the Muslim world. Its clean design and easy-to-use layout make it a functional and memorable learning tool. Here are some of the excellent features that will assist you in your learning process:
Reading Assignments
Each set of readings is designed to reinforce and expand the knowledge gained from course lectures. Not all readings are found in the book; some are only available on-line at www.encounteringislam.org/readings.
Key Readings: These consist of about 15 pages per lesson. We highly recommend these readings for everyone taking the course. They will give you a grasp of the key points of each lesson. These readings are all found in the book, immediately following the lesson introduction.
Basic Readings: These consist of about 30 pages per lesson: read both Key and Basic Readings. In addition to the Key Reading assignments, most students will want to continue reading to gain a general understanding of the lesson topic. We highly recommend both the Key and Basic Readings for most students. Basic Readings are all contained in the book directly behind the Key Readings. Students seeking a certificate for completing this course must read all Key and Basic Readings.
Full Readings: These consist of about 45 pages per lesson: read Key, Basic, and Full Readings. Full Readings are only available online in the web-based companion to the textbook. Visit www.encounteringislam.org/readings to find these assignments. These readings are available free of charge but do require a brief, one-time registration process. We recommend the Full Readings to any student who plans to work with Muslims. Most students taking this course for academic credit will also be required to read the Full Readings.
Highlights
Brief readings focusing on specific topics of interest to the reader are found throughout the book, including:
Concepts: important biblical or cultural concepts the student should know.
Outreach: appropriate ways for reaching out to Muslims.
People Groups: overviews of the major ethnic Muslim affinity blocks, illustrated with descriptions of characteristic people groups from each block.
Quotes: quotations from "the experts" illustrating important lesson points.
The Qur’an: important verses and concepts from the Qur’an.
Stories: narrative accounts from the lives of Muslims and Muslim-background believers.
Women: specific issues that affect the lives of Muslim women.
Ponder This
These introductory questions help set the mental stage for entering each lesson.
For Further Study
This feature suggests additional readings on the lesson topics for those who would like to study a topic more deeply.
Discussion Questions
These open questions provide an opportunity to apply each lesson's materials in discussions with others. These discussion questions may be used in class activities, provide ideas for forum postings, or simply serve as points for individual reflection.
Recommended Readings & Activities
This feature identifies additional readings and activities which may be assigned by your professor or completed just for fun. These activities include reading, watching, praying, visiting, eating, listening, meeting, shopping, and surfing the Internet.
Glossary
Unfamiliar terms or concepts are cross-referenced and included in the glossary. Italics are used throughout the book to denote the first time a glossary word appears in the text. Please refer to the glossary for definitions of these terms.
Arabic Pronunciation Guide
This guide will help you pronounce the transliterations of Arabic words found throughout the text.
Common Word List
These are key words that occur frequently throughout the book.
Index
In addition to an index of common names and concepts, the book also includes separate indexes of Bible references, Qur'an references, maps and illustrations, and figures.
Bibliography
The bibliography is a complete, scholarly collection of the authors, readings and highlights that appear in the book.
