Colonial powers and Islam

In a short section, Shakib Arslan presents what he sees as the policy of the major European powers toward Muslims during the First World War. He says that Britain and France did not accept alliance offers from Iran or from Egypt, and accepted one from Sharif Husayn only after hesitation. He says the Allies did not accept alliances with Muslim states because they did not want to be bound to anything in return. He concludes that the colonial states do not accept even friendship from Islam, and that Muslims give their lives and wealth in their cause without return. This is the author's account of the events of the war, and it is not a conclusive document on the intentions of the states. ¹

What is not recorded here needs a further source.