Islamic theology and sectarian considerations are rarely sufficient explanations for instances of terrorism and political violence involving Muslims or taking place in the contemporary Muslim world. Political, social and economic factors often determine whether a given dispute reflects sectarian identities or transcends them. This book examines the permutations and problems of modern Islam, wherein discussion is directed toward the differences between Sunni and Shiite Islamic sects; the Islamic traditions of Wahhabism and Salafiyya; an overview of Islamic finance based on the principles of shariah or Islamic law; Islamist militancy in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region; Islamic terrorism in the Balkans; Islamic religious schools, known as Madrasas and the presence of Islam in Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.