It is common knowledge that western scholars, politicians and historians have extensively been studying the role and importance of religion in the history of world civilization for centuries. Many distinguished scholars devoted their works to the study of this subject and developed numerous approaches which to some extent differ due to socially-political and historical factors. The aim of the thesis is to provide extensive historically-comparative analysis on the religious communities, with special focus on the sources about Muslim societies in England in the 17th – 19th centuries.
The thesis embodies three parts. Part One is dedicated to the study of the Turkish – English relations. While Chapter One discusses the role of the Ottoman Empire in the spread of Islam in England, the following chapter largely sets focus on the contribution of Muslim scholars to the development of science in England in the 17th century. Part Two deals with the role of Islam in the internal and external relations of England. It sheds light on the sea travels of local merchants to the countries of South Africa and India. These chapters mostly analyze the factors that affected travelers to convert to another faith and motivated them to promulgate religious teachings among the local people of England. Finally, Part Three discusses the history of development of Muslim communities and centres in England. Christian-Muslim relations in the works of western scholars will thoroughly be analyzed as well.