This book examines the impact of Islam on early modern Britain. Christian-Muslim interaction was not, as is often assumed, primarily adversarial; rather, there was extensive cultural, intellectual and missionary engagement with Islam, which can be seen in London coffee houses, among converts to and from Islam, in sermons and in plays.

This book examines the impact of Islam on early modern Britain. Christian-Muslim interaction at this time was not, as is often thought, primarily adversarial; rather, there was extensive cultural, intellectual and missionary engagement with Islam. Professor Matar investigates the impact of the Qur'an and sufism on the people of Britain, showing that the British interacted widely with Islamic religion, culture and people through travel, in London coffee houses, in church, among converts to and from Islam, in sermons and in plays.