Pan-Islam

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26981

Title

Pan-Islam

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

G. Wyman Bury presents Pan-Islam as a practical political and social movement uniting Muslims globally against exploitation, rather than a mere religious treatise. Drawing on decades of experience, the book analyzes the movement's origins, its role in World War I, and its strengths and weaknesses, offering a balanced perspective for the general public on inter-racial affairs.

Summary up to 500 words

In "Pan-Islam," G. Wyman Bury provides a comprehensive analysis of the origins, political utility, and global impact of the Pan-Islamic movement. Bury argues that Pan-Islam is not a modern invention but an instinctive reaction of Muslims to non-Muslim aggression, which evolved from a natural sentiment into a formal organization under Sultan Abdul Hamid and later under German influence. The book details the historical context of the Ottoman Caliphate, clarifying the racial distinctions between the Turco-Mongol Ottomans and the Semitic Arab majority, and explains how these dynamics shaped the movement's political landscape. A central theme of the work is the movement's strategic role during World War I. Bury describes how Germany attempted to weaponize Pan-Islam against British interests, utilizing German officials, engineers, and missionaries to turn Muslim populations against the Entente. He contrasts the activities of Muslim proselytizers with Christian missionaries, criticizing the latter for aggressive tactics that distort facts about Arab life and Islam. Bury defends cultural practices often misunderstood by the West, such as slavery, polygamy, and fatalism, arguing they are culturally specific rather than inherently sinful. The author advocates for a reasonable entente between Islam and Christianity based on mutual respect. He suggests that while religious compromise is impossible, both faiths have contributed significantly to human progress. Bury concludes that the book serves as an elementary handbook to help the public understand the complex political, social, and religious factors of the Pan-Islamic problem without offering infallible solutions or taking sides. His goal is to foster a friendlier feeling between the two great militant creeds, urging tolerance and an end to the spiritual swashbuckling that jeopardizes genuine missionary and administrative efforts.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26981.epub.noimages

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data/epubs/pg26981.epub

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2026-07-04 21:03 UTC

Categories

• Religion
• Politics