Between the years 1978 and 1996, the late Gai Eaton gave a series of talks on BBC Radio about Islam and its role in contemporary society. Eighty-six of these talks—variously titled 'Reflections', 'Words of Faith' and 'Pause for Thought'—are published here for the first time as Reflections. Together these talks provide a beautifully clear and accessible introduction to the central tenets, principles and practices at the heart of Islam and, as such, are not only a unique guide for non-Muslims, but also an inspiring reminder to Muslims of the essence of their faith.
Connecting everything that Eaton discusses in Reflections are the two principles of the Oneness of God (Tawhid) and the Viceregency of man (khilafah). Therefore, whether discussing the five pillars of Islam or the sufi concepts of fear (makhafah), love (mahabbah) and knowledge (ma'rifah) or the idea of a 'just war', or environmental changes, Gai Eaton reminds us that nothing is independent of the One who is Truth, Mercy and Beauty and that we, who are the Viceregents of the Truth, must—if we are to do justice to the potential within us—undertake the human struggle, the inner jihad, to convert our divided souls into unified, harmonious, balanced souls; souls not motivated by selfishness, self-regard and self-righteousness, but souls in a state of peace, illumined by the permanent consciousness of the Divine.
While always expresses himself as a Muslim, Gai Eaton's voice, with all its wisdom, its humanity and its humour, speaks not only to Muslims but to all those interested in a spiritual approach to life.
Table of Contents:
Preface
Reflections: Sufism
Reflections: The Five Pillars of Islam
Reflections: Fear, Love and Knowledge
Reflections: Seeing and Being Seen
Reflections: Beauty
Reflections: Living by the Book
Reflections: Of One Accord
Reflections: Contemplations
Reflections: Faith and Action
Reflections: Contemplation and Action
Words of Faith: Man as Viceroy
Words of Faith: Detachment
Words of Faith: The Capacity to See Near and Far
Words of Faith: Inner and Outer Peace
Words of Faith: Islam: The Sunni/Shi'ah Divide
Words of Faith: Who is the Infidel?
Words of Faith: The 'Labels' of Religion
Words of Faith: A Relationship of Reciprocity
Words of Faith: The Night Journey
Words of Faith: The Islamic Way of Life: The Shari'ah
Words of Faith: The Islamic Shari'ah Today
Pause for Thought: The Need to Pause
About the Author :
Charles Le Gai Eaton was born in Switzerland and
educated at Charterhouse and King's College, Cambridge. He worked for
many years as a teacher and journalist in Jamaica and Egypt (where he
embraced Islam in 1951) before joining the British Diplomatic Service.
For more than twenty years, he was consultant to the Islamic Cultural
Centre in London.
