"There are no official creeds in Islam comparable to the Apostles' creed and the Nicene creed in Christianity. In mainstream Sunnite Islam, however, there is broad agreement about the chief doctrines, and over the centuries these have been expressed in creeds by individuals and groups, some of which have been widely recognised and used for instruction." "These creeds are basic material for the study of Islamic religion, and a selection is given here in translation, together with a historical introduction, explanatory notes, and a single Shi'ite creed to show the contrast."--BOOK JACKET.