A Concise Children's Encyclopedia Of Islam by Al-Arabee Ben Razzouq

In the compilation of the present work, a number of books and websites have been consulted. Part of it was also the product of translation of a number of texts provided by Brother Abdul Malik Mujahid, Director of Darussalam. A list of the books consulted appears at the end of the encyclopaedia.

The present reference tool, which is a humble attempt to place before the English-speaking Muslim children a number of basic Islamic teachings and concepts

It is primarliy aimed at children of age ten years and over and presents topics in an easy-to-use alphabetical format. It also covers a wide range of topics and features cross-references which draw attention to related subjects.

Given the fact that some of these Islamic teachings and concepts have been forgotten by many Muslims, and given the fact that some of them have been given wrong definitions or interpretations by some non-Muslims, either deliberately or out of ignorance, an effort has been made here to present these teachings and concepts in their true light and clear picture.

The definitions not only cover a wide range of concepts such as tawheed, tawbah, shirk, Eemaan and Ihsaan, but also include some of the well-known Prophets and Messengers of Allah, may Allah's peace be upon them all, the significance of certain important occasions such as Ashuraa and Eed, the benefits of the observance of certain practices and a short biography of the four rightly-guided caliphs who helped shaped the destiny of the new faith.

Even though the present reference guide is designed specifically for Muslim children, readers and students of all ages and different faiths who wish to learn about the world's fastest growing religion will certainly find it enlightening and highly informative.

The explanations this reference tool provides are for the most part based on the Quran and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu aliaihi wa aalee hi wa sallam. When the reference is to the Surah of the Quran, the name of the Surah is mentioned, followed by its number and then by the number of the verse. Thus, (Surat Maryam, 19:11) means the eleventh verse of the nineteenth surah of the Quran, which is Surat Maryam. When the reference is to the hadeeth, this is in many cases followed by the narrator/s who reported it, sometimes followed by the category of the hadeeth if not reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.