The perception of Islam as a rigid, seemingly ossified religion of the East has become outdated, especially since the Arab Spring. The Arab Spring has shown that change is desired and indeed possible. The paths through which these changes are achieved are as diverse as Islam itself. But what is Islam? What shapes it? What defines it? Wolfgang Günter Lerch presents the multifaceted world of the Islamic faith. He also guides the reader into the realms of music and literature, sciences and philosophy, economics and politics. He decodes the significance of traditions and hierarchies, discusses the phenomenon of Islamism, and questions the consequences of the dynamics unleashed by the Arab Spring - not least for East-West relations.