Islam

From the arid sands of Arabia emerged in the seventh century, Islam. A religion so progressive in its philosophy and dynamic in its scope that it revolutionised society as it was known till then. It brought God and man together in a deeply personal bond that had nothing to do with intermediaries. Soon, this new religion powered its way into the deepest interiors of Africa, Asia and Europe. So vigorous was its impact that today, one-fifth of the world's population claims adherence to it. But there's another face to Islam: the face which has seen the exquisite mosques of Damascus, the delicate art of calligraphy, the sumptuous palaces of Spain and the beautiful gardens of Persia and Kashmir.