Dictionary of Islam (Annotated)

Thomas Patrick Hughes's Dictionary of Islam is an ambitious nineteenth-century reference work that gathers doctrines, rituals, historical figures, legal concepts, sects, Qur'anic terminology, and social practices associated with Islam. Written in the alphabetic form of a scholarly lexicon, it combines philological explanation, comparative theology, and missionary-era ethnography. Its style is precise and documentary, often citing Arabic sources and earlier Orientalist scholarship, while also reflecting the assumptions and polemical tensions of Victorian religious writing. Hughes was an Anglican missionary and scholar who spent many years in British India, where sustained contact with Muslim communities shaped his interest in Islamic belief and practice. His pastoral and apologetic concerns, together with his linguistic training and access to Indo-Muslim intellectual traditions, informed the book's scope. The Dictionary thus emerges from both close observation and the colonial scholarly environment in which Islam was frequently studied for administrative, theological, and comparative purposes. Readers should approach this work as both a substantial compendium and a historical artifact. It remains valuable for understanding how Islam was catalogued for English-speaking audiences in the late nineteenth century, provided its biases are read critically. Scholars of religion, colonial history, Islamic studies, and intellectual history will find it especially useful.

This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.

Thomas Patrick Hughes (1838-1911) was a British Anglican missionary who served under the auspices of the Church Mission Society in Peshawar for 20 years. Hughes is noted for his facility with languages, Islamic scholarship and contributions to the completion All Saints Memorial Church in Peshawar. His most notable works include A Dictionary of Islam and the official government textbook for learning Pashto.