John Nelson (convert)

John Nelson was one of the earliest known Englishmen to convert to Islam.[1]

History

John Nelson was the son of one of Elizabeth I's guards.[2] He was a yeoman.[3]

Records from the time show a number of other Englishmen converting to Islam around this time, often as prisoners or when travelling to foreign lands. The same year that Nelson was first mentioned in writing, 1583, was the same year that Oxford English Dictionary first included the word "renegado", a Spanish term for someone who converted from Christianity to Islam. Thus, while Nelson is the first known Islamic convert, he was not not the only one in his era.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Saunders, Thomas (1583). The Voyage made to Tripoli.
  2. ^ "First Convert – John Nelson – Muslim Museum UK – Uncover the 1400 year relationship between Britain and Islam. Explore the history and heritage of Muslims in Britain". Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  3. ^ A.M.S, The Caliphate (31 January 2026). "From Captivity to Conversion: Stories of Britain's Earliest Converts to Islam". The Caliphate A.M.S. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  4. ^ Gilliat-Ray, Sophie (2010). Muslims in Britain: an introduction. Cambridge New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-83006-5.
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