Faith and Practice: Islamic Perspectives on Robert Browning

Abstract

Abstract: One of the greatest poets of the Victorian period, Robert Browning
is taught universally from school through university levels. Given such
magnitude, the multifaceted poet deserves research attention from various
perspectives. A fascinating aspect of his poetry is that, in spite of his refusal to
be labelled as a Christian, he displays strong faith in God and the afterlife. His
poetry is steeped in religious connotations that derive heavily from the Bible.
There are striking similarities between many concepts preached by Islam and
Christianity. It will be interesting to view his poetry from the perspective
of the former. Islam emphasises its own unique concepts and values to help
its adherents achieve their vision of success. Browning, though accepting
the central ideas of Christianity, deviates from it conceptually. Given this
background, this article attempts to evaluate his notion of faith and its practice
from Islamic perspectives and discover where the poet’s ideas converge with
those of Islam and where they differ.