Does the Qur'an Consider Following One's Desires as Ascribing Partners to God?
Question
Title: Does the Qur'an Consider Following One's Desires as Ascribing Partners to God? Question: I have heard some people speak of taking your desires as your "god" as a form of Shirk . Is it? If so, is it major shirk or minor shirk ? Usman Khokhar Pakistan Answer: The stated concept is generally derived from Al-Furqaan 25: 43. The Qur'an, in the referred verse, says: Have you seen him, who has made his false desires his god? Will you then still plead for him? Although some people have interpreted this verse to imply a condemnation for all such people, who may deviate from the right path or who may commit a mistake in the way of fulfilling their desires, yet I do not fully agree with this interpretation. The verse, if interpreted with the stresses of its words and its context in mind, refers to those people, who, even after God had sent a messenger among them, refused to acknowledge and accept the truth, merely because they found the truth to be against what they desired it to be. This attitude is clearly indicative of the rejecter's arrogance and his considering his desires to be more deserving to be followed than the 'Truth' revealed by God and taught by His messenger. This attitude is exactly the same as the one adopted by Satan, when he refused to submit to God's command and 'refused' to obey Him. Arrogance, as one can easily see, is to consider oneself bigger than God's Truth. Arrogance is to allow one's personal likes and dislikes to hinder oneself from accepting and submitting to the Truth. It is precisely for this reason that the Qur'an has categorically stated an arrogant person cannot even taste the eternal bliss of paradise. The Qur'an says: Those, who reject Our signs and turn away from them with arrogance, the gates of heaven shall not opened for them, till the camel enters the eye of the needle. Rejecting God's directives with arrogance is to follow the traditions of Iblees . It is like holding oneself equal to, if not above, God. Indeed, under such circumstances, it is as abhorrent as Shirk . It is because of this reason, that some Muslims hold that such an attitude is, in fact, Shirk . I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad September 11, 2001
Answer
Title: Does the Qur'an Consider Following One's Desires as Ascribing Partners to God? Question: I have heard some people speak of taking your desires as your "god" as a form of Shirk . Is it? If so, is it major shirk or minor shirk ? Usman Khokhar Pakistan Answer: The stated concept is generally derived from Al-Furqaan 25: 43. The Qur'an, in the referred verse, says: Have you seen him, who has made his false desires his god? Will you then still plead for him? Although some people have interpreted this verse to imply a condemnation for all such people, who may deviate from the right path or who may commit a mistake in the way of fulfilling their desires, yet I do not fully agree with this interpretation. The verse, if interpreted with the stresses of its words and its context in mind, refers to those people, who, even after God had sent a messenger among them, refused to acknowledge and accept the truth, merely because they found the truth to be against what they desired it to be. This attitude is clearly indicative of the rejecter's arrogance and his considering his desires to be more deserving to be followed than the 'Truth' revealed by God and taught by His messenger. This attitude is exactly the same as the one adopted by Satan, when he refused to submit to God's command and 'refused' to obey Him. Arrogance, as one can easily see, is to consider oneself bigger than God's Truth. Arrogance is to allow one's personal likes and dislikes to hinder oneself from accepting and submitting to the Truth. It is precisely for this reason that the Qur'an has categorically stated an arrogant person cannot even taste the eternal bliss of paradise. The Qur'an says: Those, who reject Our signs and turn away from them with arrogance, the gates of heaven shall not opened for them, till the camel enters the eye of the needle. Rejecting God's directives with arrogance is to follow the traditions of Iblees . It is like holding oneself equal to, if not above, God. Indeed, under such circumstances, it is as abhorrent as Shirk . It is because of this reason, that some Muslims hold that such an attitude is, in fact, Shirk . I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad September 11, 2001
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