author
Edward Sell
1839–1932
An Anglican missionary and scholar in India, he spent decades studying Islam and writing books that introduced many English-language readers to Muslim belief and practice. His work reflects both deep curiosity and the missionary outlook of his time.
1 Audiobook
The Faith of Islam
by Edward Sell
About the author
Born in Wantage, Berkshire, on January 24, 1839, Edward Sell became an Anglican priest, orientalist, writer, and missionary whose career was closely tied to India. He studied at the Church Missionary College in Islington and went on to spend many years in Madras, where he worked in education and missionary service.
Sell served as principal of the Harris High School for Muslims in Madras and later as secretary of the Church Missionary Society in Madras. He was also connected with the University of Madras, and his long residence in India shaped the books for which he is best remembered.
Among his best-known works are The Faith of Islam and The Religious Orders of Islám, books that aimed to explain Islamic belief and practice to English readers. He died in Bangalore on February 15, 1932. Because his writing grew out of a missionary setting, modern readers may find it most useful when read alongside more recent scholarship.