"Islam: Faith, Art, Culture presents an authoritative introduction to the Islamic religion, illustrated with works from one of the finest and most highly acclaimed collections of Islamic manuscripts in existence, that of the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin. It covers both orthodox faith and popular piety, including the historical context of the divine revelation to the Prophet Muhammad, the contents of the Qur'an, Islamic calligraphy, the practice of the faith, the many prophets and other figures revered by Muslims, and Islamic mysticism." "The manuscripts chosen to illustrate the text span the period from the ninth century to the early twentieth, although most were produced between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries. They derive primarily from the Arab world, Turkey, Iran and India, but also include examples from Spain, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and China. Featured are some of the greatest documents of Islamic art and culture. The manuscripts, and the concepts they deal with, are as relevant today as they were when they were produced, and as such they serve as ideal illustrations for this general introduction to Islam."--Jacket.