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TO FOLLOW DESIRES
The
Arabic word “heva” literally has meanings of;
empty space, full with air, futile or worthless.
The concept of “heva” expresses the fondness
of the spirit of concupiscence to lust and pleasures, at
the same time it is used to describe the carnal man which
commands his owner without having knowledge. Such a spirit
leads its owner to dangers and to the hell by falling him
into lust and excessive pleasures.
The extreme desires
of man and his attitudes which are against the knowledge
sent by Allah, namely revelation are describes as “heva”.
The needs of the carnal man, legitimate wishes are not wicked
when they are satisfied properly, even they are considered
as merit. The spirit of concupiscence always has some wishes.
Some of them are not really man’s needs but the greedy
desires of the carnal man. A person can meet the legitimate
needs of his spirit within the limits of rules that are
sent by the Lord whom he believes in. His pursuit of excessive
desires is an indication of his neglect of the limits drawn
by his Lord. No doubt this is a mistake and is something
harmful to the person.
If a spirit obeys to
the Truth comes from Allah (c.c) and arranges the thoughts,
decisions and wishes accordingly, such a person is on the
right way.
But when someone do
not listen the rules sent by revelation, consider only his
own opinion, pleasures, decisions and desires as important,
such a spirit is the one which goes astray and this means
such a person follows his fancies -heva-.
The cause of all evils,
polytheism and disbelief is to obey one’s own desires
-heva-.
While committing and
act, giving decision, doing worship and decide something
right or wrong; people follows their own mind or the rules
of the religion they believe in. If the mind obeys to the
knowledge came from Allah, revelation, the mind hits the
mark. If the people do not believe in the information sent
by Allah, his mind absolutely will err by following his
“heva”.
When “heva”
is settled in a heart, all evil behaviors, all badness being
the polytheism first will fill up this heart. Such people
are led by their unfounded suspicions which are similar
to “heva” and their pleasures. They even do
not listen the spiritual guidance sent by their Lord. (1)
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(1) Chapter Necm, 53/23
The Characteristics of people who follow their desires
( heva )
The following verse
is so remarkable to indicate the harm of the pursuit of
desires.
“If
the Truth had been in accord with their desires truly the
heavens and the earth and all beings therein would have
been in confusion and corruption! Nay We have sent them
their admonition but they turn away from their admonition.”(1)
One of the characteristics
of the people who obey their own desires, is becoming proud
and to oppose the revelation communicated by the Prophets.
Today who want to manage the life and the world in the direction
of their unfounded suspicions and who want to live at their
pleasures oppose to the message of the Noble Quran and the
rules of Islam. (2)
People who follow desires
-heva- disregard the Verses and revelation by showing ignorance.
They are really ignorant ones. (3) The Noble Quran addressing
the Prophet warns the believers in his person:
“Never
will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with thee unless
thou follow their form of religion. Say: "The guidance
of Allah that is the (only) guidance." Wert thou to
follow their desires after the knowledge which hath reached
thee then wouldst thou find neither protector nor helper
against Allah.” (4)
“To
thee We sent the Scripture in truth confirming the scripture
that came before it and guarding it in safety; so judge
between them by what Allah hath revealed and follow not
their vain desires diverging from the truth that hath come
to thee. To each among you have We prescribed a Law and
an Open Way. If Allah had so willed He would have made you
a single people but (His plan is) to test you in what He
hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The
goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you
the truth of the matters in which ye dispute.”
“And
this (He commands): Judge thou between them by what Allah
hath revealed and follow not their vain desires but beware
of them lest they beguile thee from any of that (teaching)
which Allah hath sent down to thee. And if they turn away
be assured that for some of their crimes it is Allah's purpose
to punish them. And truly most men are rebellious.”
(5)
Also thhe Noble Quran
says to Muslims:
“O
ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice as witnesses
to Allah even as against yourselves or your parents or your
kin and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah
can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts)
lest ye swerve and if ye distort (justice) or decline to
do justice verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that
ye do.” (6)”
There is no doubt that
following the desires upsets the balance, causes to violate
the rights, leads to partiality and zeal, incites enmity.
Muslims are frequently
warned against following desires-heva-. Again as stated
above they are cautioned not to obey the ones who are in
the pursuit of their desires and who deify their pleasures.
In relation to this it is declared that paradise, the best
of the shelters is for the ones who are afraid of Allah’s
punishment and are cautious about following their desires.
(7)
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(1) Chapter Mü’minûn, 23/71.
(2) Chapter Bakara, 2/87.
(3) Chapter Rûm, 30/29.
(4) Chapter Bakara, 2/120.
(5) Chapter Maide, 5/48-49.
(6) Chapter Nisa, 4/135.
(7) Chapter Naziat, 79/40-41.
The Noble Quran declares
people who obey to the Verses of Allah (c.c) are never equal
to the ones who obey to their passions:
“Is
then one who is on a clear (Path) from his Lord no better
than one to whom the evil of his conduct seems pleasing
and such as follow their own lusts?” (1)
Our Prophet -peace be upon
him- declared:
“Among the false idols that are
worshipped other than Allah, there is not a greater one
than the excessive desires and passions which are deified.”
In the societies where
many people follow their desires-heva- , many mistakes are
made, too many crimes are committed, trouble and malice
become widespread, humanely values are unesteemed, and the
moral of just behavior weakens. Thus the duty of people
is not to follow their desires but to obey a Prophet who
doesn’t speak of his suspicions (2), and to the Truth
communicated by him that comes from Allah (c.c) (3)
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(1) Chapter Muhammed, 47/14.
(2) Chapter Necm, 53/3-4.
(3) Chapter Bakara, 2/120.
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