The ''Encyclopaedia of Islam'' (''EI'') is an

encyclopaedia An encyclopedia (American English) or encyclopædia (British English) is a reference work or compendium providing summaries of knowledge either general or special to a particular field or discipline. Encyclopedias are divided into articles ...

of the

academic discipline An academy ( Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy ...

Islamic studies Islamic studies refers to the academic study of Islam, and generally to academic multidisciplinary "studies" programs—programs similar to others that focus on the history, texts and theologies of other religious traditions, such as Easter ...

published by

Brill Brill may refer to: Places * Brielle (sometimes "Den Briel"), a town in the western Netherlands * Brill, Buckinghamshire, a village in England * Brill, Cornwall, a small village to the west of Constantine, Cornwall, UK * Brill, Wisconsin, an un ...

. It is considered to be the standard reference work in the field of Islamic studies. The first edition was published in 1913–1938, the second in 1954–2005, and the third was begun in 2007.

Content

According to Brill, the ''EI'' includes "articles on distinguished Muslims of every age and land, on tribes and dynasties, on the crafts and sciences, on political and religious institutions, on the geography, ethnography, flora and fauna of the various countries and on the history, topography and monuments of the major towns and cities. In its geographical and historical scope it encompasses the old Arabo-Islamic empire, the Islamic countries of Iran, Central Asia, the Indian sub-continent and Indonesia, the Ottoman Empire and all other Islamic countries".

Standing

''EI'' is considered to be the standard reference work in the field of Islamic studies. Each article was written by a recognized specialist on the relevant topic. However, unsurprisingly for a work spanning 40 years until completion, not every one of them reflects recent research. This reference work is of fundamental importance on topics dealing with the geography, ethnography and biography of Muslim peoples.Elton L. Daniel, "Encyclopedia of Islam" in Encyclopædia Iranica

Editions

The first edition (''EI1'') was modeled on the Pauly-Wissowa '' Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft''. ''EI1'' was created under the aegis of the International Union of Academies, and coordinated by

Leiden University Leiden University (abbreviated as ''LEI''; nl, Universiteit Leiden) is a Public university, public research university in Leiden, Netherlands. The university was founded as a Protestant university in 1575 by William the Silent, William, Prince o ...

. It was published by Brill in four volumes plus supplement from 1913 to 1938 in

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

, and French editions. An abridged version was published in 1953 as the ''Shorter Encyclopaedia of Islam'' (''SEI''), covering mainly law and religion. Excerpts of the ''SEI'' have been translated and published in

Turkish Turkish may refer to: *a Turkic language spoken by the Turks * of or about Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities and mi ...

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...

, and

Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
''

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

academic publisher

and is available in English and French. Since 1999, (''EI2'') has been available in electronic form, in both CD-ROM and web-accessible versions. Besides a great expansion in content, the second edition of ''EI'' differs from the first mainly in incorporating the work of scholars of Muslim and

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...

ern background among its many hundreds of contributors: Publication of the Third Edition of ''EI'' (''EI3'') started in 2007. It is available online, printed "Parts" appearing four times per year. The editorial team consists of twenty 'Sectional Editors' and five 'Executive Editors' (i.e. editors-in-chief). The Executive Editors are Kate Fleet, Gudrun Krämer (

Free University, Berlin The Free University of Berlin (, often abbreviated as FU Berlin or simply FU) is a public research university in Berlin, Germany. It is consistently ranked among Germany's best universities, with particular strengths in political science and t ...

), Everett Rowson (New York University), John Nawas (

Catholic University of Leuven University of Leuven or University of Louvain (french: Université de Louvain, link=no; nl, Universiteit Leuven, link=no) may refer to: * Old University of Leuven (1425–1797) * State University of Leuven (1817–1835) * Catholic University of ...

), and Denis Matringe (EHESS, CNRS). The scope of ''EI3'' includes comprehensive coverage of Islam in the twentieth century; expansion of geographical focus to include all areas where Islam has been or is a prominent or dominant aspect of society; attention to Muslim minorities all over the world; and full attention to social science as well as humanistic perspectives.

1st edition, ''EI1''

* 1913–38. 4 vols. and Suppl. **Vol.1. A–D, M. Th. Houtsma, T. W. Arnold, R. Basset eds., 1913. ***Reprin
A-BaBa-Bu
**Vol.2. E–K, M. Th. Houtsma, A. J. Wensinck, T. W. Arnold eds., 1927. ***Reprin
Itk-Kan
**Vol.3. L–R, M. Th. Houtsma, A. J. Wensinck, E. Levi-Provençal eds., 1934. ***Reprin
L-MMorocco-Ruyan
**Vol.4. S–Z, M. Th. Houtsma, A. J. Wensinck,

H. A. R. Gibb Sir Hamilton Alexander Rosskeen Gibb (2 January 1895 – 22 October 1971), known as H. A. R. Gibb, was a Scottish historian and Orientalist. Early life and education Gibb was born on Wednesday, 2 January 1895, in Alexandria, Egypt, ...

, eds., 1936. *** Reprin
ST-ZSupplement
***Suppl. No.1. Ab-Djughrafiya, 1934. ***Suppl. No.2. Djughrafiya-Kassala, 1936. ***Suppl. No.3. Kassala-Musha'sha', 1937. ***Suppl. No.4. Musha'sha'-Taghlib, 1937. ***Suppl. No.5. Taghlib-Ziryab, 1938. *M. Th. Houtsma, R. Basset et T. W. Arnold, eds., ''Encyclopédie de l'Islam: Dictionnaire géographique, ethnographique et biographique des peuples musulmans. Publié avec le concours des principaux orientalistes,'' 4 vols. avec Suppl., Leyde: Brill et Paris: Picard, 1913–1938. (French) *M. Th. Houtsma, R. Basset und T. W. Arnold, herausgegeben von, ''Enzyklopaedie des Islām : Geographisches, ethnographisches und biographisches Wörterbuch der muhammedanischen Völker,'' 5 vols., Leiden: Brill und Leipzig : O. Harrassowitz, 1913–1938. (German) �
vol. 1vol. 3vol. 4
*M. Th. Houtsma et al., eds., ''E.J. Brill's first encyclopaedia of Islam, 1913–1936,'' Leiden: E. J. Brill, 8 vols. with Supplement (vol. 9), 1993.

''SEI''

*H. A. R. Gibb and J. H. Kramers eds. on behalf of the Royal Netherlands Academy, ''Shorter Encyclopäedia of Islam'', Leiden: Brill, 1953. *M. Th. Houtsma et al. eds., , 13 in 15 vols., İstanbul: Maarif Matbaası, 1940–1988. (Turkish) * (Arabic) * (Urdu)

2nd edition, ''EI2''

*Edited by P. J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C. E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W. P. Heinrichs et al., ''Encyclopædia of Islam,'' 2nd Edition., 12 vols. with indexes, etc., Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1960–2005 **Vol. 1, A – l–B, Edited by an Editorial Committee Consisting of

, J. H. Kramers, E. Lévi-Provençal, J. Schacht, Assisted by

S. M. Stern Samuel Miklos Stern ( Tab, Hungary, 22 November 1920 – Oxford, 29 October 1969) was a Hungarian–British academic specializing in Oriental studies. Life He was born to an Orthodox Jewish family in Hungary, and lost his father at the age of t ...

(pp. 1–320); – B. Lewis, Ch. Pellat and J. Schacht, Assisted by C. Dumont and R. M. Savory (pp. 321–1359). 1960. **Vol. 2, C–G, Edited by B. Lewis, Ch. Pellat and J. Schacht. Assisted by J. Burton-Page, C. Dumont and V.L. Ménage., 1965. **Vol. 3, H–Iram Edited by B. Lewis, V.L. Ménage, Ch. Pellat and J. Schacht, Assisted by C. Dumont, E. van Donzel and G.R. Hawting eds., 1971. **Vol. 4, Iran–Kha, Edited by E. van Donzel, B. Lewis and Ch. Pellat, Assisted by C. Dumont, G.R. Hawting and M. Paterson (pp. 1–256); – C. E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, B. Lewis and Ch. Pellat, Assisted by C. Dumont and M. Paterson (pp. 257–768); – Assisted by F. Th. Dijkema, M., 1978. **Vol. 5, Khe–Mahi, Edited by C. E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, B. Lewis and Ch. Pellat, Assisted by F.Th. Dijkema and S. Nurit., 1986. *
via Google Books
**Vol. 6, Mahk–Mid, Edited by C. E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and Ch. Pellat, Assisted by F.Th. Dijkema and S. Nurit. With B. Lewis (pp. 1–512) and W.P. Heinrichs (pp. 513–1044)., 1991. **Vol. 7, Mif–Naz, Edited by C. E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W.P. Heinrichs and Ch. Pellat, Assisted by F.Th. Dijkema (pp. 1–384), P. J. Bearman (pp. 385–1058) and Mme S. Nurit, 1993. **Vol. 8, Ned–Sam, Edited by C. E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W. P. Heinrichs and G. Lecomte, Assisted by P.J. Bearman and Mme S. Nurit., 1995. **Vol. 9, San–Sze, Edited by C. E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W. P. Heinrichs and the late G. Lecomte, 1997. **Vol. 10, Tā'–U .'', Edited by P. J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C. E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W. P. Heinrichs, 2000. **Vol. 11, V–Z, Edited by P. J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C. E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W. P. Heinrichs, 2002. **Vol. 12, Supplement, Edited by P. J. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W. P. Heinrichs, 2004. **Glossary and index of terms to v. 1–9, 1999. **Index of proper names v. 1–10, 2002. **Index of subjects, fasc. 1, compiled by P. J. Bearman, 2005. **Glossary and index of terms to v. 1–12, 2006. **An Historical Atlas of Islam, ed.,

William C. Brice William Charles Brice (3 July 1921 – 24 July 2007) was a British ethnographer and linguist. Biography Brice was born in Richmond, Yorkshire, and studied geography at Jesus College, Oxford, interrupting his studies to serve in India during the S ...

, 1981. *E. van Donzel, ''Islamic desk reference: compiled from The Encyclopaedia of Islam,'' Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1994. (an abridged selection)

3rd edition, ''EI3''

*Edited by Kate Fleet,

Gudrun Krämer Gudrun Krämer (born 1953) is a German scholar of Islamic history and co-editor of the third edition of the Encyclopaedia of Islam.Everett K. Rowson Everett K. Rowson is an Americans, American scholar and Professor Emeritus of Middle Eastern studies, Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at New York University. He is known for his works on the intellectual and social history of the Medieval Islami ...

, ''Encyclopædia of Islam,'' 3rd Edition., available online, printed "Parts" appearing four times per year, Leiden: E. J. Brill, 2007–.

Urdu translation

The ''Urdu Encyclopaedia of Islam'' is the project of translating the Encyclopedia of Islam into

Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
''

University of the Punjab The University of the Punjab (Urdu, pnb, ), also referred to as Punjab University, is a public, research, coeducational higher education institution located in Lahore, Pakistan. Punjab University is the oldest public university in Pakistan. ...

, as a project led by

Muhammad Shafi Muḥammad Shafī‘ ibn Muḥammad Yāsīn ‘Us̱mānī Deobandī ( ur, ; ar, محمد شفيع بن محمد ياسين العثماني الديوبندي, ''Muḥammad Shafī‘ ibn Muḥammad Yāsīn al-‘Uthmānī ad-Diyūbandī''; ...

. The editorial board worked on translating the Leiden ''Encyclopaedia'' into Urdu, amending, correcting, and adding to the Leiden text themselves. The original plan for publication, as laid out by Shafi and others, was for the ''Encyclopaedia'' (which was to be entitled ''Urdu Da’ira Ma’arif-i-Islamiya'') to span between 20 and 22 volumes, with roughly a hundred illustrations per volume, published at a rate of four volumes per year. At the time of Shafi's death in 1963, one volume of the encyclopaedia had been published (in February 1954), and a second volume was in press. Because of Shafi's death, and lack of funding, work on the ''Encyclopaedia'' stalled until 1971, when a grant from the

Asia Foundation The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to "improving lives across a dynamic and developing Asia". The Asia Foundation (TAF) was established in 1954 to undertake cultural and educational activities on be ...

enabled it to resume. Volumes 10 and 12 were completed by 1973. By 1985, 21 out of a planned 25 volumes had been published.

Criticism

Historian Richard Eaton criticised the ''Encyclopaedia of Islam'' in the book ''India's Islamic Traditions, 711-1750'', published in 2003. He writes that in attempting to describe and define Islam, the project subscribes to the Orientalist, monolithic notion that Islam is a "bounded, self-contained entity".

References

External links

*
Encyclopaedia of Islam
' – online access,

Brill Publishers Brill Academic Publishers (known as E. J. Brill, Koninklijke Brill, Brill ()) is a Dutch international academic publisher founded in 1683 in Leiden, Netherlands. With offices in Leiden, Boston, Paderborn and Singapore, Brill today publishes 27 ...

.
''Encyclopaedia of Islam''
– by Elton L. Daniel article in ''

''. * {{Authority control Encyclopedias of Islam 1913 non-fiction books 1910s in Islam