Scholarly Interest in Islam
British scholars began studying Arabic, Persian, and Turkish languages and Islamic texts. The foundation of Oriental studies in British universities was part of a broader European trend. The British Museum’s collections expanded to include Islamic manuscripts, art, and artifacts.
Yet, this scholarly interest was mixed with Orientalist attitudes—viewing Islam and Eastern societies as exotic, backward, or despotic compared to Western modernity. Writers like Edward Gibbon, in his monumental Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, portrayed Islam with ambivalence, acknowledging its historical achievements while emphasizing perceived despotism.
The British Empire and the Muslim World
From the late 18th century through the early 20th century, British imperialism brought England into direct control over vast Muslim-majority regions, including India, parts of the Middle East, and North Africa.
India: The Jewel in the Crown
The British East India Company gradually extended control over the Indian subcontinent, home to a large Muslim population ruled previously by the Mughal Empire. British colonial rule transformed the social, economic, and religious landscape.
English governance introduced Western legal systems, education, and infrastructure but also disrupted traditional Muslim institutions. The 1857 Indian Rebellion—often called the Sepoy Mutiny—had religious dimensions, involving Muslim and Hindu soldiers rebelling against British rule.
Egypt and the Middle East
In the late 19th century, Britain extended influence over Egypt and parts of the Middle East, notably after the construction of the Suez Canal in 1869, vital for imperial communications.
British administration interacted with local Muslim rulers and populations, balancing control with cooperation. British officials often studied Islamic law and culture to govern effectively, while missionaries and scholars continued to spread both Christian and Islamic knowledge. shutdown123