الهَوى
THE DESIRE
خَطَرُ الهَوى / The Danger of Desire
1ـ فيما وَعَظَ اللّهُ تعالى بهِ عيسى (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): ياعيسى، لاتَستَيقِظَنَّ عاصِياً ولا تَستَنبِهَنَّ لاهِياً، وافطِمْ نَفسَكَ عَنِ الشَّهَواتِ المُوبِقاتِ، وكُلُّ شَهوَةٍ تُباعِدُكَ مِنّي فاهجُرْها.
1– It is narrated in al-Kafi: From what Allah advised Jesus (AS): ‘O Jesus, do not wake up disobedient and do not regain consciousness
[engaged] in amusement. Wean yourself from destructive desires, and abandon every passion that distances you from Me.’
[al-Kafi, v. 8, p. 136, no. 103]
2ـ رسولُ اللهِِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): إنّما سُمِّيَ الهَوى لأ نّهُ يَهوي بصاحِبِهِ .
2– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Desires (hawa) have been called thus because they overthrow (yahwi) the one who possesses them.’
[Sunan al-DArimI, p. 407]
الهَوى
THE DESIRE
3ـ رسولُ اللهِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): إنّ إبليسَ قالَ: أهلَكتُهُم بِالذُّنوبِ فأهلَكوني بالاستِغفارِ، فلَمّا رأيتُ ذلكَ أهلَكتُهُم بالأهواءِ فهُم يَحسَبونَ أ نّهُم مُهتَدونَ فلا يَستَغفِرونَ.
3– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Satan said, ‘I have destroyed them with sins and they have destroyed me with their repentance, so when I saw this, I destroyed them with their own desire, so they think that they are guided and they do not seek forgiveness.’
[al-TarghIb wa al-TarhIb, v. 1, p. 87, no. 13]
4ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إنّما بَدءُ وُقوعِ الفِتَنِ أهواءٌ تُتَّبَعُ، وأحكامٌ تُبتَدَعُ ....
4– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The onset of calamities is when desires are followed, laws are innovated…’
[Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 50]
5ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ) ـ لمّا سُئلَ عن أغلَبِ السَّلاطِينِ وأقواها قالَ ـ: الهَوى.
5– Imam Ali (AS), when asked about the most conquering and strongest of rulers, said, ‘The desire.’
[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 70, p. 76, no. 6]
6ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إنّ الجَنّةَ حُفَّت بِالمَكارِهِ، وإنّ النّارَ حُفَّت (حُجِبَت) بِالشَّهَواتِ.
6– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Heaven is encircled by bad deeds and Hell is encircled with desires.’
[Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 176]
7ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): اللَّذّةُ تُلهي.
7– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Pleasure deters.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 27]
8ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): قَلَّ مَن غَرِيَ بِاللَّذّاتِ إلّا كانَ بِها هَلاكُهُ.
8– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘It is seldom that he who is seduced by pleasures is not destroyed by them.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6813]
9ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): مَن تَلَذَّذَ بِمَعاصي اللّهِ أورَثَهُ اللّهُ ذُلاًّ.
9– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He who takes pleasure in acts of disobedience to Allah, Allah will strike him with humiliation.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 8823]
الهَوى إلهٌ مَعبودٌ / Desire is a Worshipped God
10ـ رسولُ اللهِِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): ما تَحَت ظِلِّ السَّماءِ مِن إلهٍ يُعبَدُ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ أعظَمَ عِندَ اللّهِ مِن هَوىً مُتَّبَعٍ.
10– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘There is no god worshipped beneath the shadow of the sky other than Allah, considered worse by Allah than a desire pursued.’
[al-Durr al-Manthur, v. 2, p. 261]
11ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): الهَوى إلهٌ مَعبودٌ، العَقلُ صَدِيقٌ مَحمودٌ.
11– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The desire is a worshipped god, and the intellect is a praiseworthy friend.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2217-2218]
12ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): الجاهِلُ عَبدُ شَهوَتِهِ.
12– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘An ignorant person is a worshipper of his desires.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 449]
آثارُ اتّباعِ الهَوى / The Effects of Yielding to One’s Desires
13ـ رسولُ اللهِِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): رُبَّ شَهوَةِ ساعَةٍ تُورِثُ حُزناً طَويلاً .
13– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Many a desire of one moment brings about long-lasting grief.’
[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77, p. 82, no. 3]
14ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): اُوصِيكُم بمُجانَبَةِ الهَوى ؛ فإنّ الهَوى يَدعو إلَى العَمى، وهُوَ الضَّلال في الآخِرَةِ والدُّنيا .
14– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘I advise you to keep away from desires, for desires instigate blindness, and it is straying both in the Hereafter and in this world.’
[Mustadrak al-Wasail, v. 12, p. 113, no. 13666]
15ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): الهَوى شَريكُ العَمى .
15– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The desire is the partner of blindness.’
[Nahj al-Balagha, Letter 31]
16ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): مَنِ اتَّبَعَ هَواهُ أعماهُ، وأصَمَّهُ، وأذَلَّهُ، وأضَلَّهُ.
16– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He who follows his desires, it blinds him, deafens him, humiliates him, and leads him astray.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 9168]
17ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): أوَّلُ الشَّهوَةِ طَرَبٌ، وآخِرُها عَطَبٌ.
17– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The beginning of desire is
[heralded] by singing, and its end by censure.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3133]
18ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إيّاكُم وغَلَبَةَ الشَّهَواتِ على قُلوبِكُم ؛ فإنَّ بِدايَتَها مَلَكَةٌ، ونِهايَتَها هَلَكَةٌ.
18– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Beware of having desires overcome your hearts, for their beginning is an ingrained habit and their end is ruin.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2746]
19ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): قَرينُ الشَّهوَةِ مَريضُ النّفسِ، مَعلولُ العَقلِ.
19– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The associate of the desire has a sick soul and an ill intellect.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2790]
20ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): عَبدُ الشَّهوَةِ أذَلُّ مِن عَبدِالرِّقِّ .
20– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The slave of his own desire is more humiliated than an owned slave.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6298]
21ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): كَم مِن عَقلٍ أسيرٍ تَحتَ هَوى أميرٍ!
21– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘How many an imprisoned intellect is under the power of a commanding desire!’
[Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 211]
22ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): مَن أطاعَ نَفسَهُ في شَهَواتِها فَقد أعانَها على هُلْكِها .
22– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He who obeys his self in its desires has aided in its destruction.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 8794]
23ـ الإمامُ الصّادقُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): اِحذَروا أهواءكُم كما تَحذَرونَ أعداءكُم، فلَيسَ شَيءٌ أعدى لِلرِّجالِ مِن اتِّباعِ أهوائهِم، وحَصائدِ ألسِنَتِهِم.
23– Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘Be on your guard against your desires as you guard against your enemies, for there is nothing worse as an enemy to men than following their desires and the consequences of their tongues
[i.e. speech].’
[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 335, no. 1]
مُخالَفَةُ الهَوى / Opposing One’s Desires
24ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): رأسُ العَقلِ مُجاهَدَةُ الهَوى.
24– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The peak of reason is to combat desires.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5263]
25ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): رَدْعُ النَّفسِ عَنِ الهوى الجِهادُ الأكبَرُ.
25– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Prohibiting one’s self from desire is the greater struggle (jihad).’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5393]
26ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): غالِبِ الهَوى مُغالَبَةَ الخَصمِ خَصمَهُ، وحارِبْهُ مُحارَبَةَ العَدُوِّ عَدُوَّهُ.
26– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Conquer desire the way you would overcome an opponent, and fight it the way you would fight an enemy.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6421]
27ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): غالِبوا أنفُسَكُم على تَركِ العاداتِ تَغلِبوها، وجاهِدوا أهواءكُم تَملِكُوها .
27– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Conquer your selves through abandoning habits and you will overcome them, and combat your desires and you will control them.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6418]
28ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): غالِبِ الشَّهوَةَ قَبلَ قُوَّةِ ضَراوَتِها ؛ فإنّها إن قَوِيَت مَلَكَتْكَ واستَقادَتْكَ ولَم تَقدِرْ على مُقاوَمَتِها .
28– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Take over the desire before it becomes ravenously strong, for if it is empowered it will control you and lead you, and you will not be able to resist it.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6444]
29ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): الرُّشدُ في خِلافِ الشَّهوَةِ .
29– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Maturity lies in opposing desires.’
[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 53, no. 87]
30ـ قيلَ لَه
[ الإمامِ الصّادقِ] (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): أينَ طَريقُ الرّاحَةِ ؟ فقالَ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): في خِلافِ الهَوى . قيلَ: فمَتى يَجِدُ عَبدٌ الرّاحَةَ ؟ فقالَ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): عِندَ أوَّلِ يَومٍ يَصيرُ في الجَنَّةِ.
30– Imam al-Sadiq (AS), when asked, ‘Where does the path to comfort lie?’, replied, ‘In opposing desire.’
[Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, p. 370]
31ـ الإمامُ الكاظمُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إذا مَرَّ بكَ أمرانِ لا تَدري أيُّهُما خَيرٌ وأصوَبُ، فانظُرْ أيُّهُما أقرَبُ إلى هواكَ فخالِفْهُ ؛ فإنَّ كَثيرَ الصَّوابِ في مُخالَفَةِ هَواكَ.
31– Imam al-Kazim (AS) said, ‘When two things come your way and you do not know which one is good and correct, then look at which one of them is closer to your desire and then oppose it, for most good is found in opposing your desires.’
[Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, p. 398]
غَلَبَةُ الهَوى / Overpowering Desire
32ـ رسولُ اللهِِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): يقولُ اللّهُ عَزَّوجلَّ: وَعِزَّتي وجَلالي ... لا يُؤثِرُ عَبدٌ هَواهُ على هَوايَ إلّا شَتَّتُّ علَيهِ أمرَهُ، ولَبَّستُ علَيهِ دُنياهُ، وشَغَلتُ قَلبَهُ بها، ولَم اُؤْتِهِ مِنها إلّا ما قَدَّرتُ لَهُ.
32– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘It is forbidden for every heart that is ruled by desires to have piety reside therein.’
[Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 2, p. 122]
33ـ رسولُ اللهِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): حَرامٌ على كُلِّ قَلبٍ مُتَوَلِّهٍ بِالشَّهَواتِ أن يَسكُنَهُ الوَرَعُ.
33– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘It is forbidden for every heart that is full of desires to journey through the realms of the Heavens.’
[Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 2, p. 122]
34ـ رسولُ اللهِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): حَرامٌ على كُلِّ قَلبٍ عزّي بِالشَّهَواتِ أن يَجُولَ في مَلَكوتِ السَّماواتِ.
34– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Allah Almighty said, ‘By My Might and Exaltedness…no sooner does a servant prefer his own desire over My desire than I disperse his affairs, cover him over with this world, occupy his heart with it, and do not give him thereof other than what I have allotted for him.’
[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 335, no. 2]
35ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): مَن قَوِيَ هَواهُ ضَعُفَ عَزمُهُ .
35– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He whose desire becomes strong, his determination weakens.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 7959]
36ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): حَرامٌ على كُلِّ عَقلٍ مَغلولٍ بِالشَّهوَةِ أن يَنتَفِعَ بِالحِكمَةِ .
36– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘It is forbidden for every intellect that is shackled by desires to benefit from wisdom.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4902]
أشجَعُ النّاسِ مَن غَلَبَ هَواهُ / The Most Courageous of People is he who Overcomes his Desires
37ـ سُليمانُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): إنّ الغالِبَ لِهَواهُ أشَدُّ مِن الّذي يَفتَحُ المَدينَةَ وَحدَهُ .
37– Solomon (AS) said, ‘Someone who prevails over his desires is stronger than he who captures a city by himself.’
[Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 1, p. 60]
38ـ رسولُ اللهِِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): أشجَعُ النّاسِ مَن غَلَبَ هَواهُ .
38– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The most courageous of people is he who overcomes his desires.’
[Ma`ani al-Akhbar, p. 195, no. 1]
39ـ رسولُ اللهِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): إنّ الشَّديدَ لَيسَ مَن غَلَبَ النّاسَ، ولكِنَّ الشَّديدَ مَن غَلَبَ على نَفسِهِ .
39– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘A strong person is not one who overcomes people, but a strong person is one who overcomes his own self.’
[Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 2, p. 10]
مايُضعِفُ الشَّهوَةَ / That Which Weakens Carnal Desires
40ـ إنّ موسى (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ) ناجاهُ اللّه تباركَ وتعالى فقال له ...: اُذكُرْ أ نَّكَ ساكِنُ القَبرِ ؛ فَلْيَمنَعكَ ذلكَ مِن الشَّهَواتِ.
40– It is narrated in al-Mahajjat al-Bayza: Allah Almighty revealed unto Prophet Moses (AS), ‘Remember that you will be residing in a grave, and that will prevent you from a lot of carnal desires.’
[al-Mahajja al-Bayza, v. 5, p. 169]
41ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): كُلَّما قَوِيَتِ الحِكمَةُ ضَعُفَتِ الشَّهوَةُ.
41– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Whenever wisdom is strengthened carnal desire is weakened.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 7205]
42ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): مَن كَمُلَ عَقلُهُ استَهانَ بِالشَّهَواتِ.
42– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He whose intellect is complete finds carnal desires insignificant.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 8226]
43ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): العِفَّةُ تُضعِفُ الشَّهوَةَ.
43– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Chastity weakens carnal desire.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2148]
44ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): مَن كَرُمَت علَيهِ نَفسُهُ هانَت علَيهِ شَهَواتُهُ .
44– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He whose own self is dear to him, his carnal desires become insignificant for him.’
[Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 449]
45ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): فاتَّقوا اللّهَ ـ عِبادَ اللّهِ ـ تَقِيَّةَ ذِي لُبٍّ، شَغَلَ التَّفَكُّرُ قَلبَهُ ...، وظَلَفَ الزُّهدُ شَهَواتِهِ .
45– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘So have piety in Allah – servants of Allah – with a piety that has a conscience, and a heart occupied with thought….and asceticism that has cleaved his desires.’
[Nahj al-Balagha, Sermon 83]
46ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): مَنِ اشتاقَ إلَى الجَنَّةِ سَلا عَنِ الشَّهَواتِ .
46– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He who longs for Heaven will forget desires.’
[Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 31]
مَن غَلَبَ هَواهُ / He who Overcomes his Desires
47ـ رسولُ اللهِِ (صَلَّيَ اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَ آلِهِ): يقولُ اللّهُ عَزَّوجلَّ: وعِزَّتي وجَلالي ... لايُؤثِرُ عَبدٌ هَوايَ على هَواهُ إلّا استَحفَظتُهُ مَلائكَتي، وكَفَّلتُ السَّماواتِ والأرَضِينَ (الأرضَ) رِزقَهُ، وكُنتُ لَهُ مِن وراءِ تِجارَةِ كُلِّ تاجِرٍ، وأتَتهُ الدُّنيا وهِيَ راغِمَةٌ.
47– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Allah Almighty said, ‘By My Might and Exaltedness…no sooner does a servant prefer My desire over his own desire than I protect him with My angels, and charge the heavens and the earth with his sustenance. I will be behind every transaction he makes with every trader, and the world will only come to him forcefully.’
[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 335, no. 2]
48ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): مَن غَلَبَ شَهوَتَهُ ظَهَرَ عَقلُهُ.
48– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Whoever overcomes his carnal desire his intellect will become manifest.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 7953]
49ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): مَن لَم يَملِكْ شَهوَتَهُ لَم يَملِكْ عَقلَهُ .
49- Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He who cannot control his desire cannot control his intellect.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 8995]
50ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): بمِلكِ الشَّهوَةِ التَّنَزُّهِ عَن كُلِّ عابٍ.
50– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘In controlling desire there is immunity from every deficiency.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 4354]
51ـ الإمامُ عليٌّ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): رَدُّ الشَّهوَةِ أقضى لَها، وقَضاؤها أشَدُّ لَها.
51– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Repelling one’s desire is the best way to eradicate it, and fulfilling it only strengthens it.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 5390]
52ـ الإمامُ الباقرُ (عَلَيهِ الّسَلامُ): قالَ اللّه عَزَّوجلَّ: وعِزّتي وجَلالي وعَظَمَتي وبَهائي وعُلُوِّ ارتِفاعي، لا يُؤثِرُ عَبدٌ مُؤمنٌ هَوايَ على هَواهُ في شيءٍ مِن أمرِ الدُّنيا إلّا جَعَلتُ غِناهُ في نَفسِهِ، وهِمَّتَهُ في آخِرَتِهِ، وضَمَّنتُ السَّماواتِ والأرضَ رِزقَهُ، وكُنتُ لَهُ مِن وَراءِ تِجارَةِ كُلِّ تاجِرٍ.
52– Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, ‘Allah Almighty has said, ‘By My Might and Exaltedness, My Greatness and Loftiness, and by My High Status, no sooner does a servant prefer My desire over his own desire than I will suffice him in his losses, I will guarantee his sustenance upon the Heavens and the earth, and I will be behind his every transaction with every trader.’
[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 137, no. 1]