فَلاَ تَرُمْ بِالْمَعَاصِيْ كَسْـرَ شَـهْوَتِهَا   اِنَّ الطَّعَـامَ يُقَوِّي شَــهْوَةَ النَّهِمِ

17/5. Do not try, through committing sins, to subdue sensual desires. Verily, the food (only) increases the desires of the gluttonous person.

When the poet felt the need for a spiritual guide, it is as though someone asked, “What is the need for reforming yourself at the hands of a spiritual guide? Give the nafs whatever it desires, its strength will diminish.”
Allaamah Buseeri Rahimahullaah refutes this by stating the above.

Those people who feel that, by sinning, they will be able to subdue their sensual desires, are in great deception. Hedonistic Western civilization, who are followers of their carnal desires, have adopted this route, and have thus destroyed the honour of mankind. They have pushed man beyond animalism and barbarism. The Islamic teaching is not to light the fire. The Western philosophy is to light the fire and then try and control it.
By fulfilling one’s desires, a person will never attain satiation, rather his desires will only increase and his condition will worsen. The similitude is like a person who has a rash on his body. By scratching, he will only obtain temporary relief after which, the itch will return with a vengeance, causing one to scratch even more intensely.

By sinning, one will never be satiated. The reason being:

1. By sinning, the strength of one’s desires increases. The desires of the nafs become stronger.

2. One sin leads to another e.g. a person looks at a member of the opposite sex. This creates the desire within him to touch, which leads to kissing, and finally to the evil act of fornication.

Allaamah Buseeri Rahimahullaah explains this by means of an example:
The desires of a gluttonous person never come to an end. No matter how much food he is given, he desires even more the next time round. Similarly, the thirst of a person who drinks salty water is not quenched, but actually increases. This is the condition of a sinner. He desires to commit more and more sins. The subject matter is highlighted in the following Ahaadeeth:

Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ud RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,
“Truthfulness conveys a person towards righteousness, and righteousness conveys a person to Paradise. A person habitually speaks the truth until he is recorded by Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo as a siddeeq (an extremely truthful person). Falsehood conveys a person towards evil, and evil conveys a person to the Hell-fire. A person habitually speaks lies until he is recorded by Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo as a liar.”
(Bukhaari no. 6094, Muslim no. 2607)

Nu‘maan Ibn Basheer RadhiAllaahu Anhu narrates, ‘I heard Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam saying, “Whoever abstains from doubtful things has saved his religion and honour. Whoever falls into doubtful things is bound to fall into the unlawful.”’
(Bukhaari no. 52, Muslim no. 1599)

Moulana Thaanwi Rahimahullaah said, “A person gains enjoyment at the time he commits a sin. However, thereafter he faces problems and difficulties. For example, a beautiful woman walks past him. The person desires to look, but immediately closes his eyes. At this time there is difficulty, but once the woman goes away, then see the enjoyment one will experience in his heart. He will pass the entire day and night in great comfort. If, on the other hand, a person looked to satiation, and did not get to see the woman again, see what hell the person goes through in his heart.”

Some people are in deception with regards to certain sins. They feel that if a person fulfils the desire of sin to the fullest, the desires will terminate, whereas this is incorrect. The root of the sin becomes entrenched in the heart, even though one experiences some relief after committing the sin. It is like tobacco (cigarettes etc.) The more you smoke, the more you desire to smoke. If a person controls his desires each time, then after a few days, it will come under control. This is what is meant by
“killing” the nafs.

To terminate evils, two methods are utilized:
1. Natural
2. Unnatural

1. The natural method:
This is to remove and repel evil by means of righteous actions. Islam has adopted this natural principle to destroy all evil. Establish salaah so that one’s connection with Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo becomes strong, and one is able to abstain from all sins. Discharge zakaah so that one is saved from stinginess, greed and hoarding. Fast, so that patience, steadfastness and an environment of compassion and sympathy could be established. Perform Hajj, so one can establish the quality of effort and sacrifice within oneself, as well as a universal environment of equality and justice.

Whenever any evil was eliminated in this world, it was due to the following these fundamental principles. On the other hand, when unnatural methods are adopted, then instead of evil lessening,
it increases.

2. The unnatural method:
The Western world desires to stop evil by allowing a person to satisfy himself to the maximum. This philosophy is completely flawed. To stop a fire from spreading, water is utilized. Adding more fuel and fire, hoping that the fire will cease, is contrary to logic. If a person places a whole table full of delicious drinks and foods before a gluttonous person, will this create a decrease or an increase in his appetite?

The only way to destroy the power of the nafs-e-ammaarah is to shut the door by which it gains strength. Sins are a tonic for the nafs. Once it is deprived of this tonic, it becomes subservient and easily manageable. 

To Be Continued In Sha Allaah

مَوْلَاىَ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَداً  عَلىٰ حَبِيْبِكَ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ