فَاصْرِفْ هَوَاهَــا وَحَاذِرْ أَنْ تُوَلِّيَهُ      إِنَّ الْهَوٰى مَـا تَـوَلَّى يُصْمِ أَوْ يَصِمِ

19/7. So, redirect its desires (towards good) and beware of befriending it. Verily, whenever desires are befriended, it kills or makes your character defective.

One will be successful when he does not give the nafs whatever it desires. When a person allows his nafs to take control of him, it leads him into great problems and eventually destruction.

Here Allaamah Buseeri Rahimahullaah states that a person should redirect his evil inclinations towards good actions. To completely destroy a quality within oneself is extremely difficult, if not impossible. It is far easier to change its direction. For example, Umar RadhiAllaahu Anhu before accepting Islam, utilized his anger against the Muslims. After accepting Islam, this same anger was now directed to his nafs and the enemies of Islam.

Before accepting Islam, Khaalid ibn Waleed RadhiAllaahu Anhu exercised his military genius and skills against Islam. After accepting Islam, these same skills were used for the benefit of Islam and the Muslims.

THE EVILS OF FOLLOWING ONES DESIRES

Ibn Abbaas RadhiAllaahu Anhu said, “Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo has not mentioned desires (‘hawaa’) anywhere in the Noble Quraan except that He has condemned it.” (Ruhul-Ma’aani vol. 25, page 152)

Study the following verses wherein Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo speaks of the evil consequences of following one’s desires:

And he followed his desires, so his example is that of a dog.
(A’raaf verse 176)

But in fact, the oppressors follow their desires without any knowledge. Then who can guide those whom Allaah has misguided.
(Rum verse 29)

Who can be more misguided than the one who follows his desires without any guidance from Allaah?
(Qasas verse 50)

And do not follow your desires, it will turn you away from the path of Allaah.
(Saad verse 26)

Then have you seen the one who takes his desires as a deity, and Allaah leads him astray despite having knowledge?
(Jaathiyah verse 23)

And he followed his desires, then he will be destroyed.

(Tahaa verse 16)

If the truth had to follow their desires, the heavens, earth and whatever was therein would have been corrupted.

 (Mu’minoon verse 71)

Allaah placed a seal on their hearts and they followed their desires.
(Muhammad verse 16)

Say, ‘I do not follow your desires, else I will be led astray, and I will not be of the rightly-guided. 
(Anaam verse 56)

Sha’bi Rahimahullaah states,

Hawaa (desires) have been called so because they drop the person who fulfils his desires into the fire.
(Qurtubi vol. 16 page 167)

In the Ahaadeeth also, one is prohibited from following his desires:

1. Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “An intelligent person is he who keeps an eye on his nafs and does actions for life after death; whereas a foolish person is he who follows the desires of his nafs and then places hope on Allaah.” (Tirmidhi no. 2459)

2.  Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “Three qualities are destructive: greed which is obeyed, desires which are followed and a person who is self-conceited.” (Shuabul-Imaan of Bayhaqi no. 731)

3. Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “I fear three things for my followers: the slip of a scholar, desires which are obeyed and the rule of an oppressor.” (Bazzaar no. 3384)

4. Abu Dardaa RadhiAllaahu Anhu said, “Had it not been for three qualities, the matters of people would have been correct: greed which is obeyed, desires which are followed and a person who is self-conceited.” (Zuhd war-Riqaaq of Ibnul-Mubaarak vol. 2 page 31, Zuhd of Abu Dawood
no. 225)

5. Umar RadhiAllaahu Anhu said, “Restrain these souls from their desires, because they are constantly in search (for the fulfilment of desires). If you do not restrain them, they will drag you to a terrible end. The consequence of truth (Islam) is praiseworthy, while the consequence of falsehood is disastrous. Abstaining from sin is better than treating it with repentance. Many a gaze gave rise to passion, and a single moment’s passion caused a lengthy grief.” (Al-Bayaanut-Tabyeen vol. 3 page 138)

Some of the pious have mentioned,

There is no deity worshipped on the surface of earth more disliked by Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo  than desires.(Ruhul-Ma’aani vol. 23 page 231)

An incident is mentioned of a person who had remained for a long period in the company of his spiritual mentor. He was given permission to initiate people in the Path to Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo.
When he was about to leave, he requested for some advice from his Shaikh. The Shaikh said, “Do not claim to be Allaah! Do not claim to be a Nabi!”

The disciple remarked, “How do you have such fear that I will make such claims after remaining so long in your company?”

The Shaikh said, “If you feel that whatever you do is correct, then you are claiming to be Allaah. If you claim that whatever you say is correct, then you are claiming to be a messenger.”

By following one’s desires, one will completely destroy oneself, or it will cause one to become disgraced, and his name will be blemished. It is quite possible that both these things will happen to one. History bears witness to the fact that whoever became a slave to his passions and desires was completely destroyed. The accursed Iblees, our enemy from time immemorial, fell into the trap of his nafs and became distant from the mercy of Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo.

There was no other Iblees to turn him away from the straight path. It was his nafs which led him astray. Since Iblees has made a firm pledge to destroy man, through his experience, he has not found a better friend, spy and agent than the nafs. Allaamah Buseeri Rahimahullaah is warning us not to let our nafs become our guide
and master. 

Bishr Hafi Rahimahullaah said, “Sixty shayaateen cannot cause so much harm as one evil companion can cause in one moment. Sixty evil companions cannot cause so much harm as the nafs can do in one moment.”

To be Continued In Sha Allaah

مَوْلَاىَ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَداً  عَلىٰ حَبِيْبِكَ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ