In this work, we intend to briefly present Islam in its contemporary dimensions, that is, as a geopolitical space, a "historical domain," a social and cultural field, within which the dynamics of the Islamic Umma (community) unfold, representing approximately one quarter of humanity.

However, the references that certify the unity of the Islamic community do not define a monolithic world. They cannot cover the social inequalities, religious schisms, and political rivalries that arise from the particular ideological choices of each component of the Umma. We do not intend to expose here a situation so complex, both at the historical level and at the level of social reality. We will limit ourselves to emphasizing the main lines of development and identifying the essential reference points.

(. . .) given the sources of our documentation (mainly in Arabic, English, and French), our vision could not encompass all the horizons of contemporary Islamic thought. For example, we have very little information about Islam in China. We only catch distant echoes from the Muslim communities at the far reaches of Asia, South Africa, the Caribbean, or South America, without forgetting those communities where the prevailing regimes offer no means of communication with the outside world.

Inevitably, large entities cover lesser realities, which are often inaccessible to the historian. However, the major geopolitical and cultural entities bestow upon the Muslim Community its true historical prestige, and through them, today, the world contemplates Islam and its message.

[Excerpt from the text of the preface]