Islam in Victorian Britain (The Life and Times of Abdullah Quilliam)

Presenting the inaugural comprehensive account of Abdullah Quilliam (1856-1932), this biography encapsulates the pivotal role of this eminent Muslim figure within nineteenth-century Britain. A figure of singular distinction, Quilliam was uniquely bestowed the title of the Sheikh of Islam of the British Isles by the Ottoman caliph, Sultan Abdul Hamid II, in 1893. Revered for his charismatic oratory, he forged an exceptional Muslim community in Victorian Liverpool, an assembly that notably encompassed a substantial cohort of converts.

Ron Geaves, esteemed Professor of Comparative Study of Religion at Liverpool Hope University, lends his expertise to this narrative. His extensive contributions to British Islam, studies on religion in South Asia, and meticulous fieldwork in religious studies commend his scholarly pursuits. Geaves is laudably commended for crafting an intricate and engrossing biography of the “quintessential Englishman” who embraced Islam amidst the late Victorian milieu of the British Empire. The pertinence of Geaves’s work resonates amidst contemporary concerns surrounding the allegiance, identity, and citizenship of British Muslims. This biography assumes significance against the backdrop of prevailing discussions, epitomizing the intellectual curiosity that underscores Professor Humayun Ansari’s assessment, author of ‘The Infidel Within: Muslims in Britain since 1800’ and Professor at the University of London.