𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗭𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗛, 𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗬 𝗜𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗠

Imagine a Protestant European Queen who is threatened by the church, economically sanctioned and at risk of being invaded by the Catholic King of Spain.... Who does she call on for protection, financial support and diplomatic alliances?? “Elizabeth’s Islamic policy held off a Catholic invasion"

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦 by Jerry Brotton

This book recounts the untold story of Queen Elizabeth I, and her close relationship with Muslim rulers during a time in which Pope Pius V of the Catholic Church excommunicated her by issuing a "Papal Bull" (basically an official document making "Takfir") on 25 February 1570. The Pope issued an official decree (Fatwa) stating that the "Pretend Queen of England and servant of Crime" was a Heretic (Mubtadi'a walla Faasiqa) whose orders were not to be obeyed by anyone.

As a matter of fact, all those who had pledged their allegiance (Bay'ah) to get were excused and absolved from fulfilling their obligations towards the queen and anyone found not in agreement with the Pope was also considered a heretic and was to be equally excommunicated. As a result of this vitriolic campaign headed by the Pope himself, Queen Elizabeth was literally left stranded in her own kingdom, leaving her without allies, support and economic power. So, how did she go on then become one of the most influential and celebrated monarchs in British history? What was her next move and how did she overcome this devastating blow? Answer: She turned East.... Yes. Queen Elizabeth sought new alliances by reaching out not only to her Protestant counterparts in Europe, but more surprisingly- she also sought the help of Muslim rulers, especially the Ottoman Empire.

At a time when a "strong and independent" European Queen was being boycotted and bullied in her own realms, it was those "oppressive and insecure" Muslim Caliph Sultans who supported her, accepted her request for financial and diplomatic assistance. They took her seriously and didn't take it as an opportunity to exploit her compromising circumstances.

The Muslim leaders helped her (and her nation) salvage what little she had left of royal authority, saving her reputation and also strengthening her economic and administrative order. Talking empowering women, Muslims did it best.

Just ask Queen Elizabeth I...

Queen Elizabeth of England then sent her ambassadors to Iran, Morocco, and the Ottoman Empire, enabling the economy of England to recover from the sanctions imposed by the church and even to flourish, thanks to the rich flow of resources coming in from the Muslim world. English merchants and diplomats subsequently spent much of the second half of the 16th century making extraordinary journeys across distant Muslim lands where they were granted great audiences with powerful personalities, helping them bring forth a new era of prosperity and development to their relatively obscure homeland (UK). Meanwhile. The Spanish Crown was scheming to invade Elizabethan England in the name of Catholicism.

"Elizabeth I’s England stood isolated and vulnerable, fighting for its very survival amid an onslaught from Catholic Spain. So, with traditional allies fading away, the Queen made a brave, calculated decision to look east and engage the Muslim world in an attempt to boost trade and expand her power base" Professor Jerry Brotton even goes on to claim that Elizabeth's ties with the Muslim world helped her avoid being subject to an invasion by (Catholic) Philip II of Spain.

Where can I buy this book? Amazon...

This book is not written by an apologetic Muslim author, it is written by Jerry Britton, who is a professor of Renaissance studies at Queen Mary University of London.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐦 by Jerry Brotton