Dispraising following whims & desires
Khutbah by Salaah Al Budair – Imam of Haram
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The true Muslim is the one who aims for lofty goals and strives to free him from the shackles of lustful desires in search of salvation. His only concern is the hereafter and he always prepares himself for that day with righteous deeds. Allah says: “And of humankind is he who would sell himself seeking the pleasure of Allah. And Allah is full of kindness to (His) slaves.” (Al-Baqarah: 207).

A believer should not be entrapped by temptation, disgracing passion and misleading whims for that is the greatest calamity that can befall a Muslim. When it befalls a heart it destroys it, and when it befalls a society it ruins it. Aboo Barzah narrated that the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “Indeed, what I fear for you most is the erroneous passion of your bellies and private parts and misleading whims.” (Ahmad)

Although Passion and whims are similar in cause and effect; whims have to do with uncertainty in matters of religion while passion has to do with satisfying ones lustful desires.

Fellow Muslims! Allah speaks in His Glorious Book about past nations who were mightier than us and wealthier who surrendered to their passions and whims and fell into the abyss of immorality. They enjoyed the portion of Allah’s blessing and yet disobeyed Him and engaged in false talk about religion, then Allah chastised them and they did not find any protector against Him. Allah says: “Like those before you they were mightier than you in power and more abundant in wealth and children. So enjoy your portion awhile as those before you enjoyed their portion awhile; and you indulge in play and pastimes (and in telling lies against Allah and His Messenger) as they indulged in play and pastimes. Such are they whose deeds are in vain in this world and in the hereafter; such are those who are the losers.” (At-Tawbah: 69).

Brothers in faith! The greatest Jihad is to wage war against one’s whims and passion, because following one’s passion leads to calamity and destruction. Sheikhul-Islam Ibn Taimiyah said, “Waging war against one’s soul and passion is the basis for Jihad against the Kuffaar and hypocrites for one cannot be able to fight them until he fights with his own soul and passion first. Whoever is able to subdue his whims and passions shall have glory and prevail and whoever his passions subdue shall have disgrace and destruction.”

Hearts are but vessels, the good ones are those that are full of goodness and evil ones are those that are full of evil and corruption. Souls are naturally inclined towards evil and when it is given what it aspires for it leads its owner to peril and whoever denies his soul its passion will have peace of mind in this world and be saved from its evils. Allah says: “And by Nafs (soul) and Him Who perfected it in proportion. Then he showed it what is wrong and what is right. Indeed he succeeds who purifies his own self. And indeed he fails who corrupts his own self” (As-Shams: 7-10).

The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “All people wake up in the morning while among them are those who offer themselves for sale (i.e. surrender themselves to their passions and whims) and those who free themselves (from their passions and whims) or destroy themselves.” (At-Tirmithie).

Dear Muslims! Reins of whims get strengthened through a lot of factors and helpers and it imposes itself forcefully over human intellect. So whoever does not restrain his soul from following it will have his life ruined. The Prophet said, “The Paradise is surrounded with detestable things while Hellfire is surrounded with pleasures.” (Al-Bukhari & Muslim) Therefore beware of whims and its causes, for its benefits are little and its consequences are grievous.

Brothers in faith! Be cautious of your souls when they love something and yearn for something for passion is blind and deaf. Take the verse of the Qur’an as criterion for judging everything. Allah says: “O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion (to judge between right and wrong).” (Al-Anfaal: 29).

The Prophet said, “Indeed, I leave two things with you with which you will never go astray: The Book of Allah and my Sunnah.” (Al-Haakim).

Fellow Muslims! Beware of keeping the company of people who have heretic tendencies, for keeping their company is disgrace. They always follow the dictate of their whims; they are concerned only of this world and its temporary enjoyments and crave for leadership and high position through hypocrisy and extremism. Their views are undesirable and outrageous and their deeds are unclean. Allah describes them thus: “Have you seen him who has taken as his ilah (god) his own desire? Would you be a wakil (a disposer of his affairs or a watcher) over him? Or do you think that most of them hear or understand? They are only like cattle; nay, they are even farther astray from the path (i.e. even worse than cattle).” (Al-Furqaan: 43-44).

That was why the Salaf used to say, “Beware of two types of people: a whimsical man whose whims have put him in trial and a man of worldly possessions whom wealth has turned blind.”

Whoever calls people to other things besides Islam and its beauties is a heretic and corrupt and whoever disagrees with the Qur’an, Sunnah and the consensus of the Muslims and calls to man-made laws, innovative deeds or outrageous ideologies in the name of modernization or civilization is corrupt and heretic. He should not be followed or assisted in carrying out his erroneous deeds. Allah says: “And follow not their vain desires, diverging away from the truth that has come to you.” (Al-Maa’idah: 48).

Allah also says: “Verily, if you follow their desires after that which you have received of knowledge (from Allah) then indeed you be one of the wrongdoers.” (Al-Baqarah: 145).

The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam also condemned and warned against them when he said, “There will be some people among my nation who will be subdued by vain desires as rabies subdues its victim; for rabies leaves no vein or muscle (of its victims) unaffected.” (Aboo Dawood) We seek Allah’s protection from falsehood and dirty utterances.

While commanding the believers to keep away from those who follow their wishful desires and shun them. Allah says: “And all the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them, and leave the company of those who belie or deny (or utter impious speech against) His Names. They will be requited for what they used to do.” (Al-A’raaf: 180). Follow the Book of Allah and the authentic Sunnah of His Prophet, for that is the right path.

Fellow Muslims! Worshipping Allah by innovative methods is part of following one’s vain desires and the deeds performed this way only keep one further from Allah. The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “Hold onto my Sunnah and the paths of rightly guided successors after me. Hold on to it tightly and keep away from the innovations in matters (of religion) for every innovation is heretical and every heresy is error.” (Aboo Dawood) He also said, “Whoever innovates anything in this our religion that which is not part of it will have it rejected.” These are some sayings of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam whom Allah describes that he does not speak of (his own) desire.

‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ood RA said, “We only emulate and do not initiate; and we follow and do not innovate; and we shall never go astray as long as we hold on to the religion.”

Fellow Muslims! It is rather disgusting to see that innovations and superstition are widespread in our societies these days and yet nobody does speak against them. This is in fact a horrible and disappointing situation that can cause Allah’s retribution and punishment. It is therefore incumbent upon every Muslim to explain what Bid’ah is to people and to acquaint them with its dangers and evils. The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “Religion is sincere advice.” We (the companions) said, “For whom, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “For the sake of Allah, His Messenger, Muslim Leaders and their common folk.” (Muslim) Jareer bin Abdillah Al-Bajalee said, “I give my allegiance to the Messenger of Allah that I shall establish prayer, give Zakah and give sincere advice to every Muslim.” (Al-Bukhari)

Dear Muslims! Refine your souls and remind it of Allah’s chastisement for following one’s passion leads to destruction and torment while fear of Allah leads to guidance and well-being. The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “Three things save people from punishment: fear of Allah privately and publicly; being just during period of pleasure and anger; and been moderate in spending in poverty and wealth. Likewise there are three things that destroy man: followed vain desire; covetousness and self-admiration.” (At-Tirmithie).

Brothers in Islam! Shun the heretic people; ask Allah for firmness in faith and seek refuge with Him from the trials of life and death. Ibn ‘Abbas RA narrated that the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam used to teach them the following supplication as he taught them a Surah from the Qur’an: O Allah! I seek refuge with you from the torment of the grave; I seek refuge in you from the trial of Al-Maseeh Ad-Dajjaal (Antichrist) and I seek refuge in you from the trial of life and death.” (Muslim)

Do not be like those who kill themselves with their own hands and always remember Allah’s word:” Follow not your desire for it will mislead you from the path of Allah. Verily! Those who wander astray from the path of Allah (shall) have a severe torment, because they forgot the Day of Reckoning.” (Saad: 26).

O you who has a mountain-load of sins! O you who has been deafened and blinded by vain desire! Repent from your sins and turn back to your Lord before it is too late for Allah accepts the repentance of those who repent and turn back to good deeds.

Allah says: “Allah accepts only the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and foolishness and repent soon afterwards; it is they whom Allah will forgive and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces them and he says, ‘Now I repent’; nor of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful torment.” (An-Nisaa’: 17-18).

O you, who see lessons and listens to admonitions, fear Allah and take care so that you may not be denied access to the Prophet’s Pool. The Prophet said, “I shall be at the pool awaiting those who will come to me among you. And there will be some people who shall be prevented from reaching me and I will say, ‘My Lord! They are of me and of my nation!’ Then I will be told, ‘Did you know what they did after you? By Allah, they turned back on their heels (i.e. they disbelieved).’ I will then say, ‘To Hell with him. To Hell with Him who changed the religion after me.’ (Al-Bukhari & Muslim).

Fellow Muslims! Beware of making changes in the religion and beware of being among the callers to error and ignorance; those who stand on the edge of Hell campaigning for women’s liberation and calling unto all evils. Allah warns us against this set of people when He says: “Allah wishes to make clear (what is lawful and what is unlawful) to you and to show you the ways of those before you, and accept your repentance, but those who follow their lusts, wish that you (believers) should deviate tremendously away from the Right Path.” (An-Nisaa’: 26-27).

The Prophet said, “Whoever calls unto guidance shall have rewards equal to that of each of those who follow him deducting nothing from their rewards. And whoever calls unto error shall have sin equal to that of each of those who follow him deducting nothing of their sins.” (Muslim)

Brothers in faith! Beware of sins that cause eternal misery and hold on strongly to Imaan. Be aware that this life is just like a serpent’s poison and do not be deluded with your health and energy. Allah says: “Then for him who transgressed and preferred the life of this world (by following his evil desires). Verily, his abode will be Hell-Fire. But as for him who fears standing before his Lord, and restrained himself from impure evil desires and lusts, verily Paradise will be his abode.” (An-Naazi’aat: 37-41).

Dear Muslims! Fear Allah and obey Him. He says:“O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” (At-Tawbah: 119).

Beware also of following vain desires while judging others, arbitrating between quarreling groups or giving witness. “And not let the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is well Allah is well with you do.” (Al-Maa’idah: 8).

O you guardian of orphans! O you overseer of trusts: render the trusts (to whom they are due) and do not be treacherous. Remember a day that hidden affairs will be exposed; a day that a flag will be raised for every treacherous fellow and it will be said, ‘This is the treachery of so-and-so son of so-and-so.’

Fellow Muslims! Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, fear Him, remember that you are going to meet Him one day and extol Him by loving Him more than all your beloved ones and giving His obedience Preference over all other things. Get prepared to meet him and do all good deeds that please Him. Also, reflect on your own selves and your weaknesses and hold yourselves responsible for all the sins you have committed. Reform your hearts by listening to the verses of the Glorious Qur’an and subdue your passions and lusts. Be like your predecessors to whom the realities of this world was exposed, they then saw its defects and to whom the hereafter manifested and they strove to gain the pleasure of Allah. Sacrifice yourselves to the truth.“…And take a provision (for the journey to the hereafter.), but the best provision is piety and righteousness.” (Al-Baqarah: 197).

Be also reminded that the fruit of listening to admonition is to follow it; be therefore among those who listen to the words and follow the best thereof.