The hidden truth: Did Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy secretly convert to Islam?

There has been much curiosity regarding Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy. Was Tolstoy a Muslim? Did the renowned author encounter Islam before he died? Here, we have gathered answers to these questions for you. Tolstoy, one of the most widely read authors worldwide with his writings, might have been a Muslim. His first encounter with Muslims occurred during his education in Kazan. During this time, he learned Turkish and Arabic, gaining the opportunity to understand Islam closely. During his years in the Caucasus and Crimean fronts, he met significant figures such as Sheikh Shamil and Hadji Murad. Based on his experiences there, he wrote the works 'The Cossacks' and 'Hadji Murad.' Additionally, the author corresponded with many people, including renowned Egyptian scholar Muhammad Abduh. His letters reflect a positive influence of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Islam. In his book about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Tolstoy wrote, 'It may seem strange to say, but for me, Muhammadism stands far higher than Christianity (worship of the cross). If a person were given a choice, any sensible person would, without hesitation, accept Muhammadism, the belief in one God, and his prophet.' Valeria Porokhova, who translated the Quran into Russian, stated that Tolstoy accepted Islam in his later years and wished to be buried as a Muslim. Porokhova mentioned that he was buried according to Islamic rites, and his grave does not have a cross, a symbol of Christianity. In conclusion, although it is not definitively known whether Tolstoy became a Muslim, his feelings, orientation towards life, and the life he desired are very close to Islam.