Remembering God : Reflections on Islam

by Charles Le Gai Eaton

Written by the best-selling author of Islam and the Destiny of Man, Remembering Reflections on Islam is a profound analysis of the most urgent concerns and questions facing us at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Contrasting modern, secular society with religion and tradition in general and with Islam in particular, Gai Eaton clarifies the essential need for spirituality, religion and values based on eternal principles. The main ideas behind Remembering God are that religion is not an isolated part of human life which can be disregarded at will and without consequences; that a total rejection of the past cannot be the basis for the future and that a true link with Heaven modifies all the decisions and actions of society. The continuity and harmony of the religious perspective contrasted with the dislocation and alienation of modern society is the theme that runs throughout the book, touching on religion in metaphysics, knowledge of the div! ine and of oneself, supplication, the necessity for purifying the ego; and on the application of religion to politics, architecture, the environment and gender relations, Charles Le Gai Eaton illustrates the subtle harmony of a religious perspective and its abiity to transform both the individual and society.

Genres: Islam, Religion, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Spirituality

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Charles Le Gai Eaton (Hasan le Gai Eaton or Hassan Abdul Hakeem) (1 January 1921 – 26 February 2010) was born in Lausanne, Switzerland and raised as an agnostic by his parents. He received his education at Charterhouse and at King's College, Cambridge. He worked for many years as a teacher and journalist in Jamaica and Egypt. He then joined the British Diplomatic Service.
Eaton converted to Islam in 1951. He served as a consultant to the Islamic Cultural Centre in London. In 1996 he served on a committee that drafted the constitution of the Muslim Council of Britain
He was however often critical of mainstream British Muslim opinion, and felt that Muslims themselves should have sorted out Saddam Hussain. Regarding the invasion of Iraq, in an interview with emel magazine he said, "I am very torn either way and I cannot quite make up my mind what I think... He was our monster, it should have been for us to deal with him.” In the same article Eaton also called for the creation of a British Islamic identity, "it is time for the Muslims in Britain to settle down, to find their own way, to form a real community and to discover a specifically British way of living Islam... This is no curry-island.”
His books include Islam and the Destiny of Man (listed on Q News' list of "10 books to take to university"), King of the Castle, and Remembering God. Many converts to Islam in the United Kingdom have been inspired by his books, which are also expositions of Islam for Western readers, secular or believing. He also frequently contributed articles to the quarterly journal on comparative religion and traditional studies, Studies in Comparative Religion.
There is a short autobiography at Salaam Books[8]. His last book and autobiography A Bad Beginning and the Path to Islam was published by Archetype in January 2010. He is the father of Leo Eaton, a director and producer of documentary films.[10]

Reviews

[Siddiq Husainy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The problem of time, jihad, Shariah, Flat-Earthers, Ignoramus, Horizontal - Vertical, Esoterism, Mysticism, Paradox, Theodicy.

These are to name a few of the things touched by Gai Eaton in his book. Don't let the jargon fool you for he explained it in a simple way. For me at least.

General view:-
Having read Muhammad Asad's Road to Mecca and Muhammad Iqbal's The Reconstruction of Religious Thoughts, I could not help but notice the similarities in their views and writings with Gai Eaton's. Although words fail me to describe the common theme or tone of the books, one word that could package it all together is "internalisation".

Internalisation in the sense that deep thoughts of the religion and not settling for just the superficial and rhetoric but also contemplate on some issues and ideas that either arise due to limitation of mankind or the cultural and local influence on the practice of Islam.

Gai Eaton separated the book into two parts. The first part in answering questions that clash with the Western values and ideals while the second part touches on the fundamentals and principles of Islam.

As you can expect from a learned Westerner, he is well-read in the domain of philosophy and history(Christian history, Iran's reawakening) ; quoting philosophical and historical occurrence sporadically. In addition to that, I have learned as well to put high expectation on the learned Westerner Muslims to provide a critical view on the Western values and the vertical crisis that are common throughout that side of the world and truly so, Gai Eaton doesn't disappoint in that sense.

Flat-Earthers:-
A new term that I encountered from this book is "Flat-Earthers". Yes. Flat-Earthers. However, this is not the people that argue that the Earth is flat. This refers to men who lived on this Earth such that YOLO (You Only Live Once). This refers to men who lived with only the horizontal connection and ignoring the vertical aspect of life. The vertical aspect here is the concept of religion and God.

The above concept does not only pertain to atheist or agnostics. It also rings true to people of religion as well. Consider this. Some of us have the tendency to do things in the name of God or in the name of religion. Is that so internally or is it just lip-service?

The evergreen problem of women:-
I like this statement from Gai Eaton. One that is new to me.
"If women no longer require protection in order to fulfil their feminie role and to nurture the next generation, then one is entitled to ask how many men are really necessary for the survival of the tribe, the people, the race... If women no longer need men, this has not diminished man's need of woman. There are subtle differences in the sexual drives of the two sexes."

Are men's inner ego and need for women the reason for oppression against the opposite sexes? What I mean is either domestic oppression, or at the legal level or even the implementation aspect? It could be one of the reasons, but I feel it is not the only and strongest reason. But definitely, inner ego of men plays a role.

Also, Gai throws a satirical attack on men. Women keeps men realistic and not lost too much inside theoretical world. It is said the widow of Karl Max sighed that he didn't collect enough capital despite writing numerous books and letters. (Then again, it might be a story created by a capitalist)

Alas, then, the views on women from the Muslim world and the western world are probably two different perspective. One side will ask how does the Muslim women can tolerate being treated as second fiddle to men? On the other side will ask how does the western women can tolerate being treated like dogs? Two different perspectives. Which are correct? The answer is not so clear cut. In fact, no answer is correct because the questions are incorrect in the first place. The question, I believe is filled with biases and cultural and local influence in the first place. Ignoring the external influence, whether one take into account the historical timeline and the vertical aspect of life (referring to adhering to religion) would determine whether the answer is satisfying or not.

Paradoxes, Theodicy, Free Will and Pre-destination:-
What is meant by theodicy is the ever problem of good and evil. Now, one would argue that there is no evil. Evil is in fact an absence of good. I held to this view not just long ago but still won't answer the underlying issue of why is there a need for absence of good in the first place. Of course, people would say that to differ between those who are righteous and non-righteous but I don't agree that as the first argument. I agree that as the hikmah or wisdom but not as the first line of argument. The same goes to Free Will and Pre-Destination. People will argue that we have free will but there is also arguments that we are pre-destined. Nothing is in our control. These are some of the paradoxes that I feel, despite countless arguments and debates, won't ever be solved. I like the fact that Gai Eaton quoted this from Neil Bohr.

" the opposite of a profound truth is also a profound truth ".

It is in fact, a limitation of human language, and in turn, limitations to human knowledge to understand certain things and ideas. We can try, and God knows we might even get the answer. It seems I might take the easiest route by not trying to delve deeper into the paradoxical questions, but contemplating on what I have known so far, safe to say, the Einstein's theory of relativity is the closest that can convince me of the answer.

Our time and perspective is different from God's Time and Perspective (I put it as T capital and P capital for God is not bound to anything. It is just a reference so that I can understand in terms of my knowledge)

Overall:-
There is much more to write about this book. However, I feel suffice to stop here for I don't do justice by polluting such a masterpiece with my immature opinions. This is a smashing book indeed. Infinitely grateful that I was presented the chance to read this. Can't wait to read his other book, King of the Castle.

5/5

[Irzam Hardiansyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books that truly affect my life; it radically changed my perception about religion and what being religious means. An outstanding work from a pure-White British moslem whose long-span of life has brought him in touch with many cultures and religions, and convey upon him such wisdom and tolerance in understanding religion and religious life. Thanks Mr. Gai-Eaton.

[Fearless · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bayagi uzun suredir Islam'a dair bu kadar guzel, aciklayici ve kesinlikle karsit gorusleri en anlasilir sekilde anlatan bir kitap okumamistim.

Islam'i her scidan ele alarak, karsit goruslerini aciklayip onemli noktalara yaptigi vurgularla gonlumu yeniden aydinlatti diyebilirim. Su siralar okumalsrimda farkli kaynaklar ve gelecege ve gecmisin bazi degisim evrelerine bakis atarak bugunumun dusunduren durumlarina cevaplar aramaktayim. Bu kitapta resmen sorularimin en guzel cevabi oldu.

Eger Islam analizi ve ozuyle ilgili celiskili dusunceler tasiyorsaniz kesinlikle okuyup uzerine dusunmeniz gereken bir kitap diyebilirim.

[Rashid Yasin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book a couple years ago for a book club, which made me engage with the text a lot more than I would have if I was reading casually. I found two main takeaways.

First, the core concept is in the title. "Remembering God", achieving Taqwa, that is what religion is about. Everything else fits under that umbrella and comes secondary to that core objective. If we remember the Divine in our actions, words, and thoughts, then we've achieved what we are set here to do.

Second, Eaton presents a pretty strong message that is oppositional to a lot of facets of modern society. He presents some Luddite-like "back to nature" arguments. I disagreed with at least half of his conclusions, somewhat fervently so. But I think he brought up a lot of important topics that we need to work through. What is our relationship to gender in a society where families are disrupted due to globalization and various cultural trends? How does the evolution of family tie to the growth of a modern welfare state? Is our capitalist mode of production inextricably tied to despoiling the earth and destroying God's creation? What is the relationship between faith in God and faith in Science? What does is mean for a civilization to make "progress"?

I came to many different conclusions. Eaton has difficulty finding God in the city - whereas I can find God happily both in that shaped by Man and that which has been left as Nature. They are both manifestations of Divine will. He fetishizes the artisan making a clay pot, but is not a modern designer or engineer just as in touch with creation as someone working with their hands? Alienation under capitalist modes of production doesn't mean that technological innovation separates us from God.

He had some good points about removing ourselves from the world. One quote I found moving on denying this world and accepting that the next is where we can truly thrive: "Truth slays error and illusion". "It has been said that the simple word la - 'No…' in the Confession of Faith burns up the world as a self-subsisting reality, reducing this false deity to cinders." As much as I favor material analysis, he has some good reminders to keep "verticality" to our perspective, to keep focus not only on this world but on the world to come.

[Danyal Saeed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Underlining stopped because too engrossed. This is what I have written in my notes on the first page.

The fragrance of perennial philosophy can be felt throughout the book. There are hints usually, though it is almost never directly tackled, as it is not the topic of this book, and one can also see the reason why: it is not needed. There are more urgent matters to be discussed for now. And also like a good Sufi master, the author only gives undeniable evidences and hints, directing you to whatever flavour of this philosophy the author believes in. And you don't have to end up where the author stands, you just have to evaluate his argument, and take your own path - whether that leads to his position or not, that does not matter.

Some topics, questions, claims and key takeaways follow:

- What are the definitions of "modern", "progress", "primitive", and "civilized"; what is the purpose and goal of modern society. Is happiness the sole goal of life, and what happens if we pursue it? And is it really happiness: if so what is with this modern society's habit of defining what should and should not make others happy? What is the purpose of law? Do democracies function as they claim to?

- Modern civilization is anything but a vicegerent of God on Earth - instead of taking care of nature and utilizing it, it exploits it and destroys it with spite. Modern architecture is very mechanical, with governments seeking to control the population, sometimes assuming people conform to whatever political theory the system believes in.

- Today's jurists and the scholars of Islam are sometimes blind to certain aspects of modern life, their priorities upside down. Shariah and fiqh are different things, and despite fiqh's importance, fiqh cannot be applied to all times and all places. We have forgotten about the spirit of Islam, focusing only on the letter. They both are important.

- How is the Muslim supposed to view suffering and death - and how much should he worry about the future?

- If modern world promotes and accepts independent thought, how is that sometimes the entire population of a country seems to reach the exact same conclusion. This is but a passing zeitgeist. And each generation breaks away from the previous one, thinking the earlier one was wrong, and they are right. And then the next does the same.

- The importance of tradition, and how modern world despises it. What does this break mean for the Muslim?

- What happens if we break the law? The difference between public and private sin and their effect on society. God's Forgiveness.

- Pairs: Men and Women. Their roles. Love between husband and wife.

- Modern work life.

- War and when is it be waged, and how. How far we have come from the ideal. Prophet (pbuh) forbade defacing an enemy. A bomb, even if it targets true enemies only, does it not deface the enemy? How modern political movements use the name of Islam and Jihad yet are far from it.

- Importance of small acts of kindness - like smiling.

- Importance of beauty.

- How Western civilization has conquered the souls of the ummah. And how freedom movements seldom ask this question: whether they need inward freedom first. Puritanism of revolutionaries. What happens if one imposes virtue by edict.

- Effective deification of man in the modern value system.

- Atheism vs ignorance. Pascal's problem with atheism.

- Fish rotting from the head down. How the decay of Muslim elite and intelligentsia led to corruption of the ummah as a whole.

- Darwinism and its effects on thought in general, not just biology.

- Universality of religions.

- Niels Bohr: "The opposite of a profound truth is also a profound truth".

- What is meant by seeing God, and God seeing you all the time.

- Predestination and Decree. Free will. Time, past, present and future.

- Three levels of Ultimate Reality included in the concept of God.

- Opposites, and apparent contradictions: Transcendence and Immanence. Near and Far. First and Last.

- Silence of religions. How it is as interesting sometimes as are their affirmations.

- The meaning of Sufism and the invalidity of most attacks against it.

- Faith is vulnerable. Knowledge is impregnable. Importance of knowledge of Tawhid, and other things.

- Spiritual hunger of the West. The use of upside-down, bottomside-up language.


Of course, every topic is just touched upon. But touched upon in a very enlightening way.

Something that I do not agree with thus far: His views on democracy. I believe democracy, with some checks and balances, is the basis of an Islamic government. But Eaton's challenge to British and American democracy is valid. And something that struck me as surprising was his attack on Ali Shariati. I don't know much about Shariati so I cannot say.

Two things that I kept writing in my notes:
- یہاں ہونا نہ ہونا ہے۔ نہ ہونا عین ہونا ہے
- نفی بھی تیرے ہونے کا پتہ ہے

So how does this variety of topics fall under one book? It is the aspects of our lives where we have forgotten God, and need to remember Him. Hence the title: "Remembering God". Also I use the word "Muslim" with a capital M, but it applies to any muslim - i.e. a person who submits to God. I believe this will be a good read for anyone who submits to, or wants to submit to, God.

Just like "Islam and the Destiny of Man", the first book I read by Gai Eaton, this urges me to bring about significant practical changes in my life. I pray I can remember and "justify my existence" as said in the book.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect Eaton reading combination would be Islam and the Destiny of Man by this author followed by the present book. In this work Eaton expands on the ideas contained in the former, offering his personal viewpoints particularly in regards to the universality of Islam and religion as such as well as his strong favoritism towards the Sufi path as the ideal expression of the depths of Islam.

As Eaton is quite open with many of his personal beliefs, Muslims (not to mention non-Muslims) will have differences of opinion on various issues he mentions perhaps homosexuality and the role of women being two of the greatest examples. Eaton takes the stance of the majority of Muslims in being against homosexuality, and is also consistent with the core teachings of the Islamic tradition in regards to the rights of women. But the majority Islamic opinion on homosexuality will likely cause much more controversy in the West than the rights of women should – at least properly understood. Islam doesn’t view the sexes as unequal, simply different. Therefore orthodox Islam emphasizes different roles for the sexes, but in no way different levels of equality and/or opportunities to be full human beings. This is an important point that is lost on many Muslims just as much as it is those outside of Islam.

Eaton wrote this book for a Western audience, and as such he tackles modern Western issues head on with no apologies. Despite my disagreements with certain of his viewpoints, I admire his willingness to publish such a personal piece of writing that will allow readers a glimpse into the life of a sincere Muslim scholar of our time

[Eiman · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘We poor humans have been given desires, hopes and longings which can only find fulfilment in a place out of sight.’

This is the second book I have read by Gai Eaton, the first being ‘Islam and the Destiny of Man.’ Being British and having grown up agnostic (later accepting Islam), he has proved yet again to be an indispensable link in bridging the dissonance between Islam and the West.

This is a subjective over-view of the book rather than an objective review. Growing up in a non-Muslim country, so many lines and limits have become blurred for me. Gai Eaton’s books make me feel as if I am being shaken by the shoulders and being reminded that my preconceived ideas can and must be reconsidered, that colonisation is not just physical. They remind me that, more than learning, unlearning is something I am in desperate need of. But it isn’t an easy process, and a fickle mind needs constant reminders. May Allah allow me and the rest of us to practice Islam in the way that is most pleasing to Him.

Such a liberating break from the echo chambers we are exposed to in our daily lives. A book for reorienting a wandering heart.

[Esra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is a must-read for those who want to look at Islam from an intelectual point of view. It explains some of the most profound subjects that are being discussed today and brings clarity to them. The essence of all religions and their practices is only one thing, remembering God, and we all tend to forget it from time to time. The book is a great source for “remembering to remember”.

I muss say, it is not easy to absorb the text fully as it requires great attention and patience. Maybe this is also the reason why some concepts are mentioned repeatedly.

[Hande · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book that combines threads of the spiritual, worldly, comparative, individual, community aspects of Islam. The challenges we face as Muslims and the obligations that we have. The main message is to constantly remember God to keep our hearts clean from rust. While reading the Qur'an and the Prophet's life should be more than enough, sometimes humans need other humans to tell them about what is needed - about what God tells us to do. Thank you Charles.

[Helena]

I feel both triggered and reassured all at once. This man seems to be super discerning or maybe I'm just ignorant, as the saying he liked to quote goes: "him is so ignorant him don't even know him don't know"

[Pedro Barata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gai Eaton — may Allah have mercy on him — is, in my opinion, one of the best contemporary European Muslim writers. His writing is beautiful, eloquent, sometimes simple and at other times very sophisticated.

I really enjoyed this book, though it took me much longer to finish than I expected. Perhaps that’s because almost every paragraph contains gems that require time to absorb. It’s definitely a book I will return to in a few years, InshAllah.

The way he ended Chapter 1, “The Third Strand,” was a masterpiece, and I found Chapter 13, “The Well-Scrubbed Mirror,” where he delves into Sufism, especially enjoyable.

I’m now looking forward to reading more of his works, such as "King of the Castle" and "Reflections".

[Sohail Babar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A logically developed book which oscillates between certains highs and lows.
An elaborate modality towards Common human desire to enjoy good life and good exit from life is explained by writer, which is attached to continous remebrance of God.
During the course of subject intrepration model, writer clears preconcieved and prevalant societal dogmas.some very interesting avenues addressed in this comprehesive book include:-
> Meaning of term muslim
> Degrees of adherence to Islam
> Why ego is disliked

[neen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5 ⭐️

-

‘Mutual love, affection and friendship bind the community in silken ropes. The Prophet was talking one day with a group of people when a man passed by, saluted them and went on his way. One of the companions remarked: "I really love that man!" "Then go after him and tell him so," said the Prophet.’

-

This was a really good read and I’m very glad I picked it up! I would recommend Reflections by the same author over this book though (as it’s my FAVE BOOK EVER), but this is still full of lovely gems 🤍 I highlighted many parts that I think I’ll go back to as Muslamic reminders. 🤍

[Khalillaher]

"... to fear God, to love Him and to remember Him..." Liked this closing statement in Gai Eaton's Remembering God. First book I've read by the author and the sheer number of topics he jumps between in the 200-or-so pages I found pretty impressive. A light read - a collection of reflections as the title suggests - and a worthwhile one at that.

[Haya · Rating 5 out of 5]

كتاب كما يجب أن يكون
من أجمل ما قرأت

[Ismo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would've gotten 5 stars from me if it weren't for the chapter on perennial philosophy.

[Sümeyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sindirebilmek için tekrar okunası bir kitap✨

[Barbaros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original comments about Islam, muslims, modernism and sufism from an English muslim.

[edypekalongan · Rating 4 out of 5]

sebuah renungan islam yang bagus
dari seorang muslim eropa.

[Hammad Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm biased against Eaton now and how good his books are to offer an unbiased review. If you liked any of his other books you'll love this as well.