Class 1
DESIRES
AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE
Every human being has desires. Every single one of us feels pulled in different directions.
We want food. We want comfort. We want love. We want enjoyment.
These feelings are natural. At times, we want what is good for us. At other times, we strongly desire something we know may harm us.
Question : “Are my desires the problem?”
Some people begin to see desires as something evil that must be completely destroyed. Others go to the opposite extreme and believe that whatever they feel should be followed.
Islam does not teach either of these.
Instead, it gives us a deeper and more balanced understanding—one that helps us live with our desires without being destroyed by them.
What Are Desires?
Scholars like Ibn al-Qayyim explain that desire (hawā or shahwah) is: An inner drive that pulls a person toward what they believe will fulfill them.
They are the natural inclinations Allah placed inside us. Without desire:
A person would not eat or drink
A person would not seek companionship
A person would not strive for anything
Desires are not accidental. They are part of how we were created.
Allah says: “Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire…” (Surah Āl ‘Imrān 3:14)
This āyah shows us that desires are made attractive to us—they are part of the test of life.
Wisdom behind desires:
To test us
To guide us toward halal
To help us live and survive
To raise our level when we control them
Are All Desires Evil?
This is where many people misunderstand. Desires are not all evil. But they are also not all good.
Ibn al-Qayyim explains that desires are like hunger or anger. They are not blamed in themselves. What is blameworthy is when they go beyond limits and begin to cause harm.
In other words: Desire becomes dangerous when it exceeds balance.
Islam does not ask you to remove your desires completely. That would be impossible.
Ibn al-Qayyim beautifully explains: A person cannot live without desires. What is required is not to remove them, but to redirect them from places of destruction to places of safety.
This is the beauty of Islam. It does not suppress human nature—it guides it.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “In the sexual act of each of you there is charity.” The companions said: “O Messenger of Allah, one of us fulfills his desire and gets reward?”
He ﷺ said: “Do you not see that if he were to do it in a haram way, he would bear sin? Likewise, if he does it in a halal way, he will have a reward.” (Ṣaḥiḥ Muslim)
Islam Does Not Deny Human Nature
Some spiritual paths in history tried to remove desires completely, isolating themselves from the world. But Allah says: “Monasticism—they invented it; We did not prescribe it for them…” (Surah al-Ḥadīd 57:27)
Islam is not about abandoning life. It is about living correctly. We learn this from the famous hadeeth recorded in Sahih Bukhari.
A group of three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ asking how the Prophet ﷺ worshipped Allah, and when they were informed about that, they considered their worship insufficient and said, "Where are we from the Prophet ﷺ as his past and future sins have been forgiven."
Then one of them said, "I will offer the prayer throughout the night forever."
The other said, "I will fast throughout the year and will not break my fast."
The third said, "I will keep away from the women and will not marry forever."
Allah's Messenger ﷺ came to them and said, "Are you the same people who said so-and-so? By Allah, I am more submissive to Allah and more afraid of Him than you; yet I fast and break my fast, I do sleep and I also marry women. So he who does not follow my tradition in religion, is not from me (not one of my followers).
So instead of saying, “Do not desire”. Islam teaches: “Desire—but in the right way”
For example:
Desire for intimacy → fulfilled through marriage
Desire for wealth → fulfilled through halal earning
Desire for enjoyment → fulfilled through permissible means
Even fulfilling desire can become an act of worship.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “In the sexual act of one of you there is charity.” (Ṣaḥiḥ Muslim)
The Real Problem: Losing Control
If desires are natural, then why are they often spoken about negatively? Because when left unchecked, they become extremely dangerous.
Ibn al-Qayyim explains that desire:
Calls a person to immediate pleasure
Ignores long-term consequences
Pushes a person to act without thinking
It says: “Do it now. Don’t think.”
Allah warns us clearly:
“Do not follow desire, for it will lead you astray from the path of Allah.” (Surah Ṣād 38:26)
“But as for the one who feared standing before his Lord and restrained himself from desires, then Paradise will be his home.” (Surah An-Nāzi‘āt 79:40–41)
One of the early scholars said: “It is called hawā (desire) because it causes a person to fall.”
And this is exactly what happens. A person may know something is wrong, but the pull of desire becomes so strong that they follow it anyway.
The Inner Struggle: Who Decides?
Ibn al-Qayyim describes a powerful inner struggle within every human being.
There are three forces:
Desire (hawā) – wants pleasure now
Intellect (ʿaql) – thinks about consequences
Religion (dīn) – reminds you of Allah and the Hereafter
When a desire appears, these three “voices” speak:
Desire says: “Do it.”
Intellect says: “Think.”
Religion says: “Fear Allah.”
Whichever voice is stronger… wins. This is why two people can face the same temptation, One resists - The other falls. The difference is not the desire—it is what is stronger inside them.
Why Desires Often Win
Desires are powerful because they promise quick pleasure. But they hide the consequences.
Ibn al-Qayyim explains: Desires bring pleasure first… and pain later. While guidance (religion and intellect) may feel difficult at first… but lead to peace later.
This is why the Prophet ﷺ said: “Paradise is surrounded by hardships, and Hellfire is surrounded by desires.”(Ṣaḥiḥ Muslim, 2822)
So the path of desire feels easy in the moment. But it often leads to regret.
From Desire to Addiction
Desires don’t become addictions overnight. They work slowly. At first, it is just a small action. Then it becomes repeated. Then it becomes difficult to leave.
The usual path:
Desire → “I feel like doing this”
Action → “Just once”
Habit → “I do this often”
Dependence → “I need this”
Addiction → “I can’t stop”
At the beginning, it feels small. But later, it controls you.
Allah says: “Do not follow desire, for it will lead you astray from the path of Allah.” (Surah Ṣād 38:26)
Ibn al-Qayyim was one of the earliest scholars to clearly describe this process. He explained that a person can become habitually attached (mudmin) to something—meaning they continue it again and again even when it harms them.
The Prophet ﷺ warned: “The one who is constantly addicted (mudmin) to alcohol is like the worshipper of idols.” (Sunan Ibn Mājah – classed as Hasan)
This shows how serious it becomes. What started as a simple desire, turns into something that controls the person.
We will study more about this in the next class.
Closing Reflection
At the end of this lesson, one thing should be clear: your desires are not your enemy—but they are not something you can trust blindly either.
They are a test, a tool, and a responsibility all at once.
If you let them lead you without guidance, they will slowly pull you toward places you never intended to go. But if you learn to control them, direct them, and discipline them, they can become a means of drawing closer to Allah and raising your rank.
Every time you pause before acting… every time you choose halal over haram… every time you resist for the sake of Allah—you are strengthening something inside you. You are training your soul to lead, instead of being led.
And this is where the real journey begins. Because addiction does not start with a substance or a habit—it starts with a desire that was left unchecked.
In the next class, we will take a deeper look at how these desires slowly grow, how they turn into habits, and how a person can reach a point where they feel they have lost control.
Action Steps for today
Identify one desire you struggle with
Notice when it becomes strongest
Try to delay acting on it at least once
Replace it with something halal
Remind yourself you are choosing Jannah over regret.
TIPS FOR THE TEST
Do not have to memorise the ayahs or hadeeths word for word and their references, but remember their meanings and the msg being given.
Remember the reminders.
ASSIGNMENT
There will be an Assignment Question asked in the Test. Marks will be given based on the following: -
I. Invite atleast 10 people to the course (can invite via WhatsApp, Facebook, Email, telegram or word of mouth) 4 Marks. (check the note below for exceptions)
Note:
Those who have already invited whether on Whatsapp, Email or FB, do not need to invite again.
It does not matter, whether people join or not, our job is to invite.
II. Reflect on yourself and make changes by using any of the tips given in this course. 5 Marks.
III. Talk to 3 people (friends or family) about any three topics from the course - (5 Marks)
IV. Pray for the Ummah, pray for the ease of all the poor & oppressed Muslims and Maghfirah of the Muslims who passed away. Pray that Allah make us all strong in imaan and give us the hidayah to work for the aakhirah and to help each other. - 1 Mark
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