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Gai Eaton

Islam and the Destiny of Man Paperback – September 30, 1985

by Charles Le Gai Eaton (Author)

55 ratings

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Islam and the Destiny of Man by Charles Le Gai Eaton is a wide-ranging study of the Muslim religion from a unique point of view. The author, a former member of the British Diplomatic Service, was brought up as an agnostic and embraced Islam at an early age after writing a book (commissioned by T.S. Eliot) on Eastern religions and their influence upon Western thinkers. As a Muslim he has retained his adherence to the perennial philosophy which, he maintains, underlies the teachings of all the great religions.

The aim of this book is to explore what it means to be a Muslim, a member of a community which embraces a quarter of the world's population and to describe the forces which have shaped the hearts and the minds of Islamic people. After considering the historic confrontation between Islam and Christendom and analysing the difference between the three monotheistic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), the author describes the two poles of Muslim belief in terms of 'Truth' and 'Mercy'--the unitarian truth which is the basis of the Muslim's faith and the mercy inherent in this truth. In the second part of the book he explains the significance of the Qur'an and tells the dramatic story of Muhammad's life and of the early Caliphate. Lastly, the author considers the Muslim view of man's destiny, the social structure of Islam, the role of art and mysticism and the inner meaning of Islamic teaching concerning the hereafter.

Throughout this book the author is concerned not with the religion of Islam in isolation, but with the very nature of religious faith, its spiritual and intellectual foundations, and the light it casts upon the mysteries and paradoxes of the human condition.

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Product details

Publisher : State University of New York Press; 1st edition (September 30, 1985)
Language : English
Paperback : 252 pages
ISBN-10 : 088706163X
ISBN-13 : 978-0887061639
Lexile measure : 1420L
Item Weight : 13.4 ounces
Dimensions : 6 x 0.57 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #106,932 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #170 in Islam (Books)

Customer Reviews:
55 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		72%
4 star		9%
3 star		10%
2 star		5%
1 star		4%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Ahmed

Great writing, great detail, great everything

Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2014

Verified Purchase

This is the second time I'm reading this book and I'm not disappointed in the least. The only thing that pulls on my buttons is the fact that I have to continuously go onto my iPhone (product placement, isn't it great?) to check for words I'm not familiar with. That tells you this is a great book. Expanding minds everywhere. Enough about me, let's get onto this book (whose material I cannot remember for the life of me).

It's a book written for a Western audience and bridges some of the questions that we may be asking ourselves regarding Islam. It goes into history. It goes into practices. It goes into the beliefs. It goes into 'the human paradox' (a chapter/section I love so much). It is very eloquently written and I recommend it to anyone who's interested in learning about Islam. So have at it. Give it a go. Enjoy. Cheers.

8 people found this helpful

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DocTX

Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2019

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Really good in beginning then got a little weird

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Muzaffer Muctehitzade

Very Good introduction yo Islam in a small book

Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2001

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At the time I purchased this book, unfortunately Amazon did not have the Contents section, so I was first dissapointed for I tought this was about the destiny of man according to Islam yet it is not, but it is very good introductory book on Islam. Most important things in the history of Islam is highlighted with articulated feelings by the author. There are sections that I would disagree with the author such as Muslims approval of a tyranical government etc, but very nice book. References are given from Holy Qur'an but there are also other statements that could be supported more strongly rather than stating them.
You feel a lot spirutialty in the book as you read it and comparisons are also given from other religions.

16 people found this helpful

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JIK

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2017

Verified Purchase

A must read regardless of if you are a Muslim or non Muslim

One person found this helpful

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Abdalla H.

Excellent book, excellent read

Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2019

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Phenomenal, very in depth.

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Ahmad Saad

a great book

Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2014

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I liked it because it summarizes the 1400 years of islamic history in a very nice way. The author seems to be very well knowledgeable of this topic.

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Percy Alan

Okay for a used book

Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2017

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This is a used book and good for what it is. All proceeds to to fund the Ocala Library, which is good enough reason to purchase.

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Gogol

Islam as it really is.

Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2007

Well written and well structured this is probably the best introduction to the Muslim religion you can find. Ignore any previous condescending reviews such as "Are Muslims really like this?" etc.... It really is beyond me why some think they are qualified to have an opinion so narrow on a religion followed by millions of people as diverse as Chinese, Europeans, Arabs, Africans etc or even on a people. Imagine if someone put up a review making the same comments about Black people or Asian people, they would immediately be condemned as an ignorant bigot but here we are, Islam is in the news, it sells newspapers and we can use it for and against to get the mob and rabble roused.

Concerning the book, it is basically an introduction to the Muslim religion. It covers all aspects of the faith and how it is understood by Muslims, its impact on the world and the impact that the world outside of Islam had upon it.

There are many other books of a similar style such as Roger Du Pasquier's Unveiling Islam and William Chitticks Vision of Islam but this is by far the best. Recommended to Muslim and non Muslim alike.

Read it and see for yourself.

12 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Not Your Ordinary Brother

Essence of Islam in modern terms

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 30, 2014

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This book is for the (one who wants to be a) modern intellectual muslim. It captures the essence of belief in Allah and the universal nature of Islam and deliver this fundamental knowledge in terms of the world today.

This book is free of the reductionist explanations of the local imams and mullahs in the mosques you find in Western countries and most certainly, those you find in muslim countries. It is free of apologetics and it is free of critical secularism.

This book does not go systematically through what muslims believe in and provide fact abouts what Islam is. Gai Eaton communicates brilliantly how the simple belief in one God and His Messenger is not just a question of believing in the Unseen or not. It has - and have had - wide ranging implications for all those humans, who became and are muslims.

This book is a ressource for those non-muslims, who do not settle with knowing what Islam is (although the book does tell you this), but also want to know what it is like to BE a muslim.

Amazon Customer

Love his writing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 25, 2020

Verified Purchase

I love Gai Eatons writing and I read his other book Remembering God. I hope God will bless him for all his efforts. He was a wise man and I'm thankful for the knowledge he wrote down.

Batman

One of Eatons great books

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 5, 2013

Verified Purchase

This is a great book. The author sets the story without going into too many words. Some of the chapters are monumental and soul inspiring. I have taken one star away as the history is out of context and mainly relies on Ummayad sources which is questionable to say the least. Highly recommended. A must read but with the premise that the historical facts are questionable.

2 people found this helpful

Zeeshan Mahmood

Illuminating

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 23, 2016

Verified Purchase

Eaton just presents Islam as it is - no apologetics or controversial statements. It's a start for those wishing to reconstruct their worldview of life and existence.

One person found this helpful

Mr Tea-Mole

MONUMENTAL!!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 15, 2003

Verified Purchase

This is a truly majestic book and is, without doubt, one of the most powerful works available on Islam in the English language. Intended primarily for the non-Muslim, or specifically for Westerners with little or no prior knowledge of Islam, I would say that this book is equally accessible and helpful to those who are either practising believers or who have a good working knowledge of the Faith, in the way it goes so far beyond ordinary introductory texts in dealing with and answering the vital questions of human existence. A comprehensive coverage of specifically the Islamic ethos is included, with regards to formation, beliefs, sources, history and crystallization, yet this representation always remains couched in an acute understanding of other major religious forces and (contemporary) intellectual contexts. This work is scholarly and encyclopaedic in content and scope, yet is saved from becoming abstruse or inaccessible by the author's pronounced gift of articulation, where with an almost effortless ease complex issues and matters are expressed in beautiful and poetical style. In fact, certain passages of this book are simply spellbinding, and there is a definite spiritual dimension to the text where the reader can tangibly feel the calm serenity of the author being transmitted through the words. I really cannot recommend this book enough; for those interested in furthering their knowledge of specifically Islam and the Muslim faith it is an excellent place to start or continue your research, for those who have any type of interest in religion in general or who are simply concerned with the deeper questions of life, meaning, purpose and existence then reading this book will prove to be an intriguing experience and for those who are simply looking for an interesting read then I am sure that this book will not disappoint you. Unreservedly, I recommend this book to as many people as possible.

36 people found this helpful