What does the Quran say about desires?
In the previous blog I talked about temptations and desires that are mentioned in the Quran. I received many wonderful reflections.
Of the many replies, I saw that many people view their desires negatively.
“I hate my desires” they said.
In my study of the Quran, hawa (desire) is not negative by itself.
My friends:
Would God make our very nature negative?
There’s no original sin.
Allah guides our nature.
He wants us to be responsible.
To consume and earn ethically.
The problem is when:
1) Those desires become god:
“Have you seen the one who takes as their god their own desire?” [25:43]
2) We follow our desires or the desires of others over God and without knowledge:
“Those who follow their [own] desires without knowledge…for them there are no helpers.” [30:29] (and in 24 other verses)
What do you think? Share your reflections below!
Want to be able to read and understand the Quran without translations?
Desires….
Everyone has desires ,it is normal for an human being to have desires.But what the thing is all our desires should be under the boundary that are permitted by Allah .
Islam is not a tough religion but the teens and young take it to be tough, they leave all the things that are permitted for us by Allah and desires for what Allah has prohibited
To desire is not at all a topic to be noted but what is to be noted is what we desire
May Allah grant us all to have halal way of desires
Jazakhumullah,
Assalamu Alaikum
As a woman of academic pursuits, I have studied all faiths, teaching World Religion. I am mature and have lived a very adventurous life and wish to state this now.The present desire of humanity is screaming for attention through social media. Why? Vanity and selfishness have taken over peoples minds with the desire for a mythical number of followers. Princes, Royals, Politicians, Parents, Children all neglect former normal relationships and communication as this new desire for followers is out of control. I have overcome this and have purposefully limited my future followers to 50. This shows humility and wisdom and I pray I become a global leader to assist humanity to retain its true love. In days of old, we each probably had only 20 good friends plus family. I have dearly loved a UAE Prince, however I think he will die with his iPhone in his hand doing selfies. My love has died now, only Allah may revive this hope.
I recommend people embrace the desire for food, healthy physical relationships and the patterns of the past. I have written in truth.
Melody Grace Godwinsdatter
I love this question regarding desires. Speaking about things that are actually related to my life in Qur’an and can be applied to everyday life is very helpful in understanding what “deen” is and how I am living it.
I think desires are part of the human condition and is a great way of self-reflection, and like someone mentioned earlier, a way to become stronger in one’s convictions. Desires aren’t all bad. My desire to finish graduate school is an example; the desire to get married is another. Even if I had the desire to partake in medicinal drugs, this merely exposes a deeper need for something else; which I would not have known if it weren’t for the need to partake in something medicinal.
So, thank you for posting this question.
Wonderful reflection 🙂 You are absolutely correct – ‘desires‘ are not innately a bad thing. It is what we do with them that matters. Thanks for reading!
Assalaamualaikom
Desire is within us, with desire we live our life, however, we need to tame it with guidance from al Quran and hadith, to be contented and satisfy for what we have given by Allah. In other word it is our friend and enemy within us, thus we need to tame and guide the desire to be our companion, otherwise it will be our greatest test in our life where life can be miserable. So we always need al Quran as a guidance or road Map to Jannah if we follow, if we don’t than surely desire will lead you to hell. Mind or brain is our analytical to choose between right and wrong, if we don’t take al Quran as our guide then desire will lead us to choose…… Al Quran is for those who have brain and no al Quran for those who has no brainer. That’s the reason the mad people is exceptional and they live with desire to get them go on. In surah al Fajr ..Allah calls the contented desire enter into His paradise or heaven with the guidance of al Quran from Allah as mentioned in surah 2:2-3, Insha’Allah, Allah SWT knoweth all.
As salaamu ‘alaikum,
Do I understand correctly that desires themselves aren’t sinful, but to act on those desires is? The desire itself can be something that is haram, but if we control our nafs and not follow through with it, then there is no sin, is that correct?
Precisely, yes. We are not judged for having desires, as Allah (swt) created us with them. We are judged for the actions that may come from these desires.
Assalam alaikum Imam Adam.
The only desire we should have is the desire to please and serve Allah alone and only.
However we are all put to the test as was the first ever man put to the test. The positive side of this is that when shaitan “attacks” it is also an opportunity given to us to turn it into a good deed instead by not indulging in it.
The way I understand it is that when I see it coming I thank Allah for this test since it gives me the chance to earn rewards if I turn it down.
When the intention to do an evil comes around we should welcome it to better crush it because Allah wills to reward us for it.
May Allah make us among the righteous and May he accept our modest deeds. Ameen
Jazak Allahu Khairan.
Desires are only negative when they are inclinations to things against what Allaah says are best for you… Submission is training your desires to be in coherence with what Allah wants for us