Islam is the second-largest and fastest-growing religion in the world, with over a billion followers. It is the majority religion in the Middle East and is shown daily, by all forms of media, to have huge relevance to events around the world. But it is a religion of which many have only a limited understanding. It is set out in clearly defined and concise sections that encompass all aspects of the religion, including: faith - the origins of Islam, with an explanation of the Koranic law and how it is dispensed; sects - a breakdown of the Islamic sects and an account of the rise of militant Islam in the 20th and 21st centuries; history - the major events of Islamic history; and Islamic world - a directory of Islamic nations in order of importance.