Aleister Crowley and Islam

Abstract

Little has been written on the relationship between one of the most prominent personalities of modern Western esotericism, Aleister Crowley (1875(2013)1947), and Islam. Yet, this relationship was important to Crowley and is significant for understanding his views on religions, as well as some particular aspects of the religious tradition he himself initiated, Thelema. Crowley had close contacts with various forms of Islam during his travels in India, Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia. He often expresses admiration and fascination for Islamic culture, which he compares favorably to other religious traditions, particularly Christianity, but also Hinduism. Some of his opinions mirror ideas that were relatively widespread in Victorian Britain. This chapter starts with a comparison between Thelema and Islam. It shows the extent of the influence that Crowley(2019)s contact(2014)both direct and indirect(2014)with Islam had on the shaping of his own religious movement. It also looks at the broader cultural meaning of Crowley(2019)s views on Islam, with respect to aspects such as politics, gender, and sexuality. Particular attention is given to the influence that the British explorer and orientalist Richard Burton had on Crowley with respect to Islam. Many of the opinions Crowley expressed were clearly modelled on Burton, who had been one of his heroes since his childhood years. This chapter also looks at Crowley(2019)s interest in Sufism and compares it with the similar interest Burton had.