The former prime minister of the United Kingdom who led Britain to victory in World War II was apparently so taken with the Islamic culture that his family wrote to him and told him not to become a Muslim.
In a letter dated August 1907 Churchill’s soon to be sister-in-law wrote to him: “Please don’t become converted to Islam; I have noticed in your disposition a tendency to orientalise, Pasha-like tendencies, I really have.
“If you come into contact with Islam your conversion might be effected with greater ease than you might have supposed, call of the blood, don’t you know what I mean, do fight against it.”
The letter, discovered by a history research fellow at Cambridge University, Warren Dockter, was written by Lady Gwendoline Bertie who married Churchill’s brother Jack.
"Churchill never seriously considered converting," Dr Dockter told The Independent. "He was more or less an atheist by this time anyway. He did however have a fascination with Islamic culture which was common among Victorians."
Churchill had the chance to observe Islamic society when he served as British Army officer in Sudan.
In a letter written to Lady Lytton in 1907 Churchill wrote that he “wished he were” a Pasha, which was a rank of distinction in the Ottoman Empire.
"[Lady Gwendoline Bertie] would have been worried because Churchill was leaving for an African tour and she would have known Churchill had been seeing his friend, Wilfrid S. Blunt, who was a renowned Arabist, anti-imperialist and poet. Though he and Churchill were friends and dressed in Arabian dress at times for Blunt's eccentric parties, they rarely agreed."
In 1940, when Churchill was leading Britain’s fight against Nazi Germany, he gave his support to plans to build what became the London Central Mosque in Regent’s Park - putting aside £100,000 for the purpose - in the hope of winning the support of Muslim countries in the war.
He later told the House of Commons that “many of our friends in Muslim countries” had expressed appreciation for this “gift”.
“Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralizes the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith.”
Dr Dockter, who assisted the London Mayor Boris Johnson on his book about Churchill, discovered the letter while researching his forthcoming book Winston Churchill and the Islamic World: Orientalism, Empire and Diplomacy in the Middle East.
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@karim: Are Muslims a Race?
Had churchill been serious to convert (to any religion,not to Islam in particular) he would have studied indepth without bias the Original Texts of the religion and also would have researched the lives of the very ones upon whom the religion was revealed or in otherwords the first generation of Muslims... it had to be an impartial scholorly study and not with an attitude of politician... Who take decisions and make resolves according to some particular vested interests or according to situations !!!.
@Sexton Blake: I have already said what you have said. Gandhi is not responsible for India Independence. I can also write similiar thing about Gandhi Characters. Shows your judgmental attitude.
@Truth be told: No. Christanity DID NOT FORESAKE its crusade traits instead it created despicable history by wiping out human races like the native Americans Jews and now a planned genocide of Muslims. There is no religion as you call Muhammadan. Unlike Christianity Islam is the Universal Religion for all times to come and Mohammad PBUH and Christ May Allah be pleased with him are Messengers of Allah SWT.
@vinsin: Without taking sides Mahatma Gandhi was probably the preeminent civil rights leader of the sub-continent and the world prior to 1948, and he undoubtedly placed great pressure on the British Raj in order to successfully gain independence. In his own way Sir Winston became very powerful, but unfortunately had some serious character defects such as heavy smoking, drinking, and, some suggest, accepting payment from powerful people. However, he would not have been alone in these activities.
Churchill was a staunch and committed Zionist. He played a major role in the creation of a homeland for the Jews in Palestine.
@Ali should we take ET to the court
for what?? letting Indians comment?? Death Sentence to ET for sure.. LOL!
@Ali: What are you protesting about? That Churchill did not convert? There are no comments that are anywhere close to being offensive!!
Indian trolls on almost all pages of ET. ET should take action or should we take ET to the court.
@karim: Muslim is not a race.
@Anarchist: What was good about Gandhi except civil disobedience movement? In-spite of his full effort Pakistan was still created.
“Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralizes the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith.”
That says it all. Having said that, Christianity had the same traits during crusade; but fortunately they have forsaken the shackles of the past. On an aside the neo-hindus in India are trying hard to act like the followers(some) of Abrahamic religions.
Odd news, must be half-baked. Churchill was extremely racist against Muslims, read his book like Malakand Field Force to get an idea.
Good. He did not convert. Churchill might be a remarkable statesman, but he was also a racist. He despised Gandhi.
You have not fully summarised the Independent'snews. You should have also shared Churchill's quotes on women's status in Islam and muslim society. This half backed news will soon be picked by mullah mindset and quoted everywhere.