The Future of Islam

by Wilfrid Scawen Blunt

These essays, written for the Fortnightly Review in the summer and autumn of 1881, were intended as first sketches only of a maturer work which the author hoped, before giving finally to the public, to complete at leisure, and develop in a form worthy of critical acceptance, and of the great subject he had chosen. Events, however, have marched faster than he at all anticipated, and it has become a matter of importance with him that the idea they were designed to illustrate should be given immediate and full publicity. The French, by their invasion of Tunis, have precipitated the Mohammedan movement in North Africa; Egypt has roused herself for a great effort of national and religious reform; and on all sides Islam is seen to be convulsed by political portents of ever-growing intensity. He believes that his countrymen will in a very few months have to make their final choice in India, whether they will lead or be led by the wave of religious energy which is sweeping eastwards, and he conceives it of consequence that at least they should know the main issues of the problem before them. To shut their eyes to the great facts of contemporary history, because that history has no immediate connection with their daily life, is a course unworthy of a great nation; and in England, where the opinion of the people guides the conduct of affairs, can hardly fail to bring disaster. It should be remembered that the modern British Empire, an agglomeration of races ruled by public opinion in a remote island, is an experiment new in the history of the world, and needs justification in exceptional enlightenment; and it must be remembered, too, that no empire ever yet was governed without a living policy. The author, therefore, has resolved to publish his work, crude as it is, without more delay, in the hope that it may be instrumental in guiding the national choice. He is, nevertheless, fully aware of its defects both in accuracy and completeness, and he can only hope that they may be pardoned him in view of the general truth of the picture he has drawn.

Genres: Nonfiction, Islam

104 pages, Paperback

Published November 8, 2007

About the author

Wilfred Scawen Blunt was born in Sussex and served in the Diplomatic Service from 1858 until 1870. In 1869 he married Annabella King-Noel, Byron's granddaughter.

Through his job Blunt travelled much in the East and interested himself in Egyptian and Indian political questions as a campaigner for liberation from British imperialism. Prose works such as The Future of Islam (1882), Ideas about India (1885), and The Secret History of the English Occupation of Egypt (1907) clearly reflect his sympathies. He also became closely connected with Irish politics and spent some time for his pains in an Irish prison where he wrote his In Vinculis sonnets.

A collected edition of his poetical works was published in 1914, which contains amongst others The Love Sonnets of Proteus (1880), romantic poems mostly set in his beloved Sussex countryside.

Reviews

[Khalaf · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book will give a closer look to Ottoman Empire at that time. The biased opinion of the author was very obvious though, which affected the objectivity of the subject. However, the author demonstrated his insightful political analysis about that era. Good to read to extend the historical background about the Islamic politics

[Faiza Sattar · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★☆☆ (3/5)

He has predicted for them great political misfortunes in the immediate future, because he believes that these are a necessary step in the process of their spiritual development

On every side the politics he hears discussed are those of the great world, and the religion professed is that of a wider Islam than he has been accustomed to in Turkey or in India

Sir Thomas Browne, "Truly the (Mussulman) world is greater than that part of it geographers have described."

and it is the school of the virtuous poor rather than of the licentious rich

Indeed, it may safely be affirmed that the course of events in India will determine more than anything else the destiny of Mohammedanism in the immediate future of this and the next generation

The Sherif depends upon the Sultan because he needs a protector, and needs his Wakaf. The Sultan depends upon the Sherif, because recognition by Hejaz as the protector is a chief title to his Caliphate

"If the Arab race falls Islam shall fall."

Islam, if she relies only on the sword, must in the end perish by it, for her forces, vast as they are, are without physical cohesion, being scattered widely over the surface of three continents and divided by insuperable accidents of seas and deserts; and the enemy she would have to face is intelligent as well as strong, and would not let her rest

in all great movements of the human intellect the force of progression or decay should be looked for mainly from within, not from without

Their prophet has foretold that Islam shall not outlive two thousand years before the Móhdy shall come, and the thirteen hundredth is just commencing

[Sarfraz Shahid · Rating 4 out of 5]

THis book is very nice and concise to the point

[Yasmine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not the kind of book, I expected it to be!
I did not officially finish it, but couldn't lie to myself anymore, I will never find it interesting enough to finish up!

[Musa Salan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought, at first, that the book would offer me something about theological aspect of Islam, but it only deal with political one, in particular British interests on Muslim countries of that time.