Aiming to bridge gulfs of misunderstanding of the Muslim world, this book argues that Islam does not mean the subordination of women, contempt for other religions, opposition to the modern world, or barbaric punishments for petty crime. Outsiders, the author contends, can understand the realities of Islamic tradition only through an awareness of its sources. This guide to Islam starts with the life of Muhammad and the Qur'an’s five pillars which govern the beliefs and behaviour of Muslims everywhere. In both historical and political terms, the great Ottoman, Safavid and Moghul empires have deeply marked the successor states in Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India.