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Synopsis The Islamic world has always posed a great challenge to the western Christian Civilization leading to wide ranging scholastic output from European scholars and writers. The historical and intellectual association of Islam and the western world spans several centuries starting with European travelogues of the seventeenth century to the contemporary western writers preoccupation with men and events of the Islamic world. From the first expansion of Islam to the exploits of Saddam Hussein, Middle Eastern society has been fatefully involved with the West. This collection of essays by a leading western expert on Islam and the Middle East gives essential background to the present Middle Eastern conflicts and their interaction, through mutual misunderstandings with Western conceptions. Each of the section of the present volume deals with one fascinating aspect of this Euro-Islamic relationship which is an intellectual and emotional endeavour to capture the essence of the Islamic world. From travel to history, culture to political events from statesmen to national hero, this volume spins all the dimensions of values, ideas and events which constitute what is known as Islam. All the essays are bound by the thread of superb quality readability and impartial scholarship, while covering a vast spectrum of subjects. The author has put together one of the best compilations on Islam which needs to be studied by both specialist and non-specialist to broaden their views on this important region of middle east, the cradle of Islam and of the world civilization.