In this verse, Allah Almighty has commended those who avoid the pursuit of desires and has graced them with the glad tidings of Paradise. Sayyidunā Abū Sulayman al-Dārānī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه states: "Forsaking a single desire of the nafs is more beneficial for the heart than a year of fasting and standing in prayer throughout the nights of a year."^[1]

Dear Islamic brothers! You have heard the immense excellence of avoiding carnal desires; for he who closes the doors of desire upon himself, Allah Almighty blesses him with the bounty of Paradise. Therefore, we must strive vigorously to avoid carnal desires so that we are not deprived of these rewards. There are several factors that incite a person towards ittibāꜤ al-Shahawāt. Let us discuss five such causes and their remedies to make it easier to avoid these destructive traits (muhlikāt).

1. The Habit of Being Easily Influenced

Upon hearing praise for something or seeing an item in another's possession (such as a sophisticated mobile phone, house, shop, or vehicle), a desire arises in the heart to possess the same. Regardless of whether there is a genuine need, an obsession takes hold that somehow, I too should be able to obtain these things. When the acquisition of these items becomes difficult, the individual oversteps permissible boundaries to fulfil the desire, thereby falling into the deep abyss of ruin.

Remedy: The remedy is for such an individual to cultivate the habit of distinguishing between genuine necessities and unlawful desires. In this regard, one should consult a pious and sincere friend, reflect upon the condemnation and harms of the carnal desires, and adopt only permissible means to achieve lawful requirements.