This encyclopedia outlines the history of the emergence of one of the three greatest world religions - Islam, shows the role of Islam in the development of the socio-economic and political structure of Eastern societies and culture. Characteristics are given of the pre-Islamic period of life, as well as the main stages of the emergence, formation and spread of Islam in the Middle Ages, at the end of the Middle Ages, in modern times; tells about the founder of Islam - the great Prophet of the Mighty and Merciful Allah Muhammad, as well as about the history of the creation of the Koran and Sunnah, selected surahs from the Koran and hadith are given. Brief information is also provided about the main directions of Islam, representatives of the religious movement that have spread in the ancient and modern world of Islam , provides a dictionary of basic concepts and terms of Islam. For a wide range of readers.