The word 'Islam' is touted almost daily with anger, fear or reverence. At the same time, suicide bombs explode and destroy, beheadings take place in front of television cameras, girls are kidnapped and historic edifices are blown up. So what does the word mean actually?

"Islam is not a religion of peace," writes Ayaan Hirsi Ali in her recently published book Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now.

This conclusion will certainly be controversial, bu