Short dictionary definitions and extended essays treat terms, concepts, personalities, place names, cultural history, and exegesis relating to the Islamic scripture. They also provide a summary of the academic study of it at the beginning of the 21st Christian century. The entries are alphabetical by English words, to be accessible to scholars in biblical studies, medieval history, comparative literature, and the social sciences and to general readers as well as to specialists in Arabic and Islamic studies. Muslim and non-Muslim scholars from Europe, North America, Israel, and Australia contribute some one thousand articles to the five-volume reference. Presumably such scholarly paraphernalia as introductions and indexes are located at the beginning and end. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)