Articles about the contents of the Islamic core scripture are combined with extended essays on the most important themes and topics within the discipline of qur'anic studies. The five-volume encyclopedia provides a dictionary of terms, concepts, personalities, place names, cultural history and exegesis; and also summarizes the academic study of the Qur'an at the beginning of the 21st century. The entries are arranged alphabetically by English subjects, rather than transliterated Arab terms, so that general readers as well as specialists can find the information they seek. Presumably the initial volume contains introductory material, and the final volume an index or indexes, and perhaps a general bibliography to augment the entry-specific lists of references. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)