The Faith of Islam

About this book

The work is a scholarly survey of Islam written by Edward Sell after fifteen years of residence in India, during which he interacted daily with Muslim communities. In the opening pages he explains that his study draws on Arabic, French, and English sources, citing the French translation of Ibn Khaldūn, Rodwell’s Qur’an translation, and numerous Muslim authorities, while noting occasional transliteration slips that do not affect meaning. The book is organized into systematic chapters that examine the foundations of the faith, Qur’anic exegesis, the various sects, theological doctrines, ritual duties, and the calendar of festivals, each supplemented by detailed notes. Sell’s preface clarifies his aim: to present what Islam “really is” from authentic Muslim sources, avoiding the prejudices of contemporary European writers and focusing on the religion’s internal logic rather than on biography or political history.

Written in the late‑Victorian era, the text reflects the measured, didactic tone of a British orientalist scholar who combines meticulous citation with personal observation. Its style is dense and academic, employing extensive footnotes and a formal register that presumes a reader comfortable with 19th‑century prose and with some familiarity with Islamic terminology. Those who appreciate historical studies of religion, students of comparative theology, or readers interested in the colonial‑era perspective on Indian Islam will find Sell’s exhaustive treatment both informative and reflective of its time.