Book Name:The Devastating Consequences of Following Carnal Desires
Sayyidunā ꜤAllāmah Ibn Ḥajar al-ꜤAsqalānī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, in his commentary on this Hadith, states:
Carnal desires" (shahawāt) refers to those worldly matters through which pleasure is derived, whether the Shariah has prohibited them directly or whether their pursuit leads to the abandonment of a Divine command. Furthermore, doubtful matters (mushtabih) and those permissible (mubāh) acts which carry the risk of leading a person into the forbidden are also included in this definition (of desires).[1]
Similarly, it is narrated by Sayyidunā ꜤAṭiyyah b. SaꜤd رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ that the holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated: “A man cannot become a person of piety (muttaqī) until he forsakes permissible and lawful matters in order to avoid falling into the forbidden.”[2]
Dear Islamic brothers! This demonstrates that a person can only enter Paradise after crossing this ocean of hardships and tribulations, and can only attain salvation from Hell by forsaking the pursuit of the nafs. Sayyidunā ꜤAlī al-Murtaḍā کَـرَّمَ الـلّٰـهُ وَجۡـھَـهُ الۡـکَـرِیۡم, while delivering a sermon in Kufa, stated:
O people! What I fear most for you is the harbouring of long-term worldly hopes and the following of sensual desires. Long-term hopes cause one to forget the Hereafter, while following sensual desires leads one astray from the truth. Behold! This world is departing, and the Hereafter is certainly approaching; both have those who seek them. Therefore, be seekers of the Hereafter and do not be seekers of this world. Today is the time for action and there is no accountability (ḥisāb), but tomorrow