Following widespread propaganda against Muslims, the idea of publishing the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Islam was formed in 2005, and its work began a year later. Extensive meetings with scholars and experts shaped the general outlook of ECI, and decided its mission statement, vision, goals, and target audience. These meetings also approved the policy on entries related to concepts, individuals, events, political parties and media. It was decided to publish ECI as a four volume English encyclopedia with about 1,200 entries.

At the outset, entries on the developments of the Muslim world in the past two centuries were gathered and categorized. These categories consisted of concepts, individuals, political parties, media, events, sects and schools of thought, contracts, books, groups and institutions. Subsequently, these entries were analyzed in numerous meetings of ECI`s board of scholars; and finally, an initial list of 950 original entries and 110 reference entries was approved. This initial list will be amended on an ongoing basis.

“Concepts” is the most important category of ECI. With 230 entries, it makes up about 23 percent of the entire entries. This section analyzes concepts such as ijtihād, justice, fundamentalism, terrorism, democracy and secularism. It also explores theological concepts such as Supreme Leadership (Wilāyāt-e faqīh), Western hegemony (istikbār), succession (caliphate), justice, Mahdawiya. Particular attention is given to these concepts` importance and application in contemporary thought and politics.

Due to the critical role political institutions play in the Muslim world, ECI strives to explain their formation and evolution in Muslim countries. Institutions such as the parliament, political parties and the media are of particular importance.

After the entries were categorized by subject, geographical classifications were applied as follows:

Africa, Central Asia and Caucasia, Europe and the Americas, International, Iran, the Middle East, Ottoman and Turkey, South East Asia and the Subcontinent.

In addition to these classifications, entries that did not pertain to a particular region and covered the entire Muslim world were presented under the title “General/Islam.” A classification was also added for “Concepts” due to its comprehensive nature.

At the same time as the entries were categorized by subject and geography, committees were assigned to take responsibility for each field. Committee heads were selected based on relevant expertise and experience. Upon completion of the initial list of entries, conferences and meetings were arranged with prominent scholars in Iran and abroad to take advantage of their assessment, and also invite them to collaborate with ECI.

In order to ensure conformity with ECI`s standards, a guideline for entry writing, accompanied by a sample article, have been prepared for authors. These guides cover the following category of entries: bibliography, biography of individuals, concepts, geography, media, political parties and institutions, and sects and schools of thought.

ECI is now at a stage where committee heads are identifying contributors and requesting articles. In addition, this specialized website has been launched in order to enhance the scholarly quality of the Encyclopedia and to provide a forum for continuous interaction between participants, readers and thinkers. Hopefully, through this constructive dialogue and critical exchange of ideas, a more comprehensive participation of researchers and scholars will be achieved.