Beginning with a description of Arabia in the 6th century, "Islam in a Nutshell" takes readers on a historical journey from the birth of Islam’s prophet Muhammed in the 7th century, through the spread of the religion and finally to contemporary differences in the way the Islam is practiced today.
Through short easy-to-read chapters, "Islam in a Nutshell" outlines the religion’s main tenets and discusses cultural and religious interpretations regarding the use of the veil, gender roles, jihad, jurisprudence and other issues. Also included in the 2nd edition of "Islam in a Nutshell" is a chapter on terrorism, a side-by-side look at the Koran and the Christian Bible and a short description of Islamic sects.