Winston Churchill on “Mohammedanism”, 110 Years Ago

By keeptonyblairforpm

PLEASE NOTE: The content of this blog and opinions expressed here or pointed to are all my choice and mine alone. In particular, the controversial postings on the present Wilders/Islam issues implies NO reference whatsoever to Tony Blair’s opinions on Islam. (This note is a result of an e-mail I received from a well-respected online friend and commenter, expressing concern that the title of my blog [Tony Blair] might lead some to incorrect conclusions, or even to weaken Mr Blair’s position on interfaith dialogue. That is NOT, repeat NOT my intention or desire.)

Comment at end

22nd December, 2008

“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries!”

The River War, first edition, Vol. II by Winston Churchill

From The WMD Library

How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its *votaries!The River War, first edition, Vol. II by Winston Churchill

This book is very rare and hard to find. There are later editions that do not contain all of the quotes used on our site. None of the presently available online versions are as complete as the original first editions. More information can be found on Wikipedia – The River War


Pages:pages 248 50
Extract: [Ed: MY bolding]

How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries!
Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property (either as a child, a wife, or a concubine) must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen; all know how to die; but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it.  No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science (the science against which it had vainly struggled) the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome.”

And Europe may yet fall, Mr Churchill, as you turn in your grave.

You may disagree with this 19th century political thought, that of one of Britain’s all-time great Prime Ministers, in any comparison to today’s Islam.  I am as yet to be persuaded, one way or the other. But these are still interesting observations by Churchill. They could even have been written by a more current political leader, were there a Churchillian amongst them.

[* Meaning of "votary" - sworn adherent, devotee, devoted admirer, devout or zealous worshipper, a staunch believer or advocate] (Go back to where you were)


Another insightful quote from Mr Churchill’s book.

“Every woman must belong to some man”

This quaint idea evidently still applies in many parts of the Muslim world. Otherwise why would a young Egyptian woman agree with her father that she’d love to go to Iraq? IRAQ! That place the westerners “destroyed”!  But this modern day Egyptian woman would willingly give herself body and soul to the man who threw his shoes at President Bush.


What was this guy thinking anyway? If he didn’t like the shoes, surely he could have just taken them back to the shop and not thrown them at the Devil Incarnate, the man whose system presumably invented the b**ted useless things?

Correction – that was somebody in Egypt, 5000 years ago.

Oh I am SO culturally insensitive, don’t you think? Answers please on a postcard of Winston Churchill to the shoe-thrower, Muntadar al-Zeidi, a correspondent for Iraqi-owned Al-Baghdadia television based in Egypt.

[Winston Churchill was 25 years old when he wrote "The River War".]

Just as well he wasn’t a 21st century politician. He’d have been drummed out of politics by the PC brigade before he could say – “What Nazis?”

But of course Churchill did NOT have to fight the enemy within – the Fourth Estateand their infiltration of lies and distortions in the minds of the British people. It’s hard to withstand attack from the enemy without, whilst being clobbered relentlessly from within.


P.S. Just found this Churchillian quotation, and had to add it.

Churchill’s response to King Ibn Saud’s demand that he not drink or smokeChurchill by Himself: The Definitive Collection of Quotations by Richard Langworth

Publisher:PublicAffairs, October 27, 2008
ISBN:1586486381
Pages:353
Extract:King Ibn SaudI was the host and I said that if it was his religion that made him say such things, my religion prescribed as an absolute sacred ritual smoking cigars and drinking alcohol before, after and if need be during, all meals and the intervals between them. Complete surrender. 1945, 17 February, Lake Fayyum, Egypt (Gilbert, Life, 825)
Abdul Aziz ibn Saud (1876-1953). When told that the King could not allow drinking or smoking in his presence, WSC replied thusly. More seriously, Churchill asked the King’s assistance, “to promote a definite and lasting settlement between the jews and Arabs” in Palestine, through a Middle East Federation headed by Ibn Saud, in which Jewish Palestine would be an integral independent part.
No smoking AND a Middle East peace settlement? Plus ca change.




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3 Responses to “Winston Churchill on “Mohammedanism”, 110 Years Ago”

  1. (Has Tony Blair lost it?): Mohammed was “an enormously civilizing force” « Tony Blair Says:

    [...] Winston Churchill on ‘Mohammedanism’ – 110 years ago [...]

  2. Compare & Contrast: Wilders speaks on US TV but NOT in a room in London « Tony Blair Says:

    [...] quoted Winston Churchill on Mohammedanism as I did here recently. What a comparison between that great prime minister and the present excuse for British [...]

  3. Soames, Churchill & The BNP « Tony Blair Says:

    [...] shaky ground here. Mr Churchill wrote about Mohammedism (Islam) in no uncertain terms. He hated it, as I wrote about here recently. Of course THAT was over a century ago, and written when Churchill was a very young [...]

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