You are certainly right mind would not conclude a problem without knowing exactly what the problems faced by researching the issue. So it is with Islam, to understand Islam you have to know what Islam is. One of the easiest methods to understand Islam is to know the history of Islam and understand the contents of the Quran.
How can understand the Quran if you do not know the translation of the Qur'an itself, because the Koran (Quran) written in Arabic. Now, with advances in science and technology information can be compiled the Qur'an in a file or software that can be easily translated into various languages in the world. Below are some Islamic sites that provide Online Translation Quran: