Oxford Islamic Studies Online is a new database available through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association.  It is designed to collate the best current scholarship in order to promote a more true and informed understanding of the Islamic world.

OISO is a great first choice for study on any Islamic topic.  It includes everything from introductory works such as What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam to very in-depth sources like the six-volume Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World.  In fact, there are over 5000 entries in a variety of categories covering topics like history, politics, culture, and religious practices.  Biographies, maps, timelines, and other material accent these articles.  There are also convenient tools like an Islamic date converter.

While there is plenty of secondary material about Islam, this database specializes in primary sources and Quranic studies.  In addition to standard reference tools like concordances, OISO can even compare translations of the Qur’an side by side.  It is a powerful tool for in-depth study of Islamic scriptures

So try the OISO for any of your Islamic research needs.  And if you need help, we’re here for you: iueref@iue.edu