Misguidance results from following one’s desires:

{ أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَٰهَهُ هَوَاهُ}

(Have you seen he who has taken as his god his [own] desire,) (Al-Jaathiya: 23)

(… زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ ) (Beautified for people …): The verb ‘beautified’ is passive, and the Almighty hasn’t stated the subject (who has beautified).

(… حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ …) (…is the love of that which they desire …): There are integral desires in humans, and such desires indicate the strong tendency by one’s self to do a certain thing. The sexual desire, for example, is integral in humans and is meant for sustaining mankind. Such desire is undeniable. Likewise, the love of children or money is an innate part of humans. Anyhow, there are ways set by the Almighty to fulfill such desires since they are integral in humans. Therefore, Allah is the One who beautifies desires when someone fulfill their desires in lawful ways, and vice versa, Satan is the one who beautifies desires when someone fulfill their desires in unlawful ways. For instance, the Almighty has made marriage the lawful way to fulfill sexual desire; and Prophet Muhammad (saws) said:

“The whole world is a provision, and the best object of benefit of the world is the pious woman[1].”

Yet, Satan beautifies fulfilling such desire unlawfully for the one who commits adultery and profane others’ honors.

(… مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالْبَنِينَ …) (…of women and sons,…): The Almighty doesn’t say ‘children’ but rather ‘sons’ which is a description of a common state and not meant to prefer males over females. Allah (swt) has made male and female equal in terms of faith and fiducial duties. Such preference here is based on the human desire as the one who has daughters wishes to have a son. This is because they think that sustaining their progeny is only possible through the sons because the daughter will be under her husband.

Why were ‘women’ mentioned before ‘sons’? because the sexual desire is more active; that’s why ‘women’ is mentioned first since women give birth to sons.

(… وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ …) (…heaped-up sums of gold and silver …): Gold and silver are still the basis of global monetization till date, and gold is the base of currencies.

(… وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ …) (…fine branded horses …): Fine-branded horses are the ones that are of a certain color or well-trained, or have special food. People still love horses till now. Besides, horses are a symbol of strength:

{ وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُم مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ}

(And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy.) (Al-Anfal: 60)

This is not something from the past. Nowadays, we have the horse power which is used to measure the power of automobile motors. Just consider how precise are the Quranic wordings; horses symbolizes strength, and no one can claim that their time is over.

(… وَالْأَنْعَامِ …) (…and cattle …): which refers to what humans can eat, i.e. livestock.

(… وَالْحَرْثِ …) (…and tilled land …): which refers to the land for growing crops, i.e. agriculture.

(… ذَٰلِكَ مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا …) (…That is the enjoyment of worldly life,…): Enjoyment is trivial, and such word refers to the worldly life in the Quran:

{ وَفَرِحُوا بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَاعٌ}

(while the worldly life is not, compared to the Hereafter, except [brief] enjoyment.) (Ar-Ra’d: 26)

And all that’s there in this life is trivial. That’s why Prophet Muhammad (saws) said:

“Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler[2].”

It’s taken for granted that a stranger or a traveler is never connected to a place or what’s there in that place because they will leave the place and return back to their people and roots.

( وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَآبِ … ) (…but Allah has with Him the best return): The best return is for those who follow the orders of Allah (swt).

Death, on the other hand, is inevitable; no one can reject it. Besides, despite all the scientific advancements, explorations and inventions, no one could ever keep someone alive when their moment of death is due. The problem here lies in the fear of death which accompanies people throughout their life; and the big question is: where to is the good return? Allah (swt) says:

{ وَلَئِن مُّتُّمْ أَوْ قُتِلْتُمْ لَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُحْشَرُونَ}

(And whether you die or are killed, unto Allah you will be gathered.) (Aal-Imran: 158)

This verse is meant to assure that humans will return to the All-Merciful. Once upon a time there was a poet whose only son passed away so he was very sad and composed a lengthy poem mourning his son. That poem is considered one of the masterpieces of Arabic poetry. The poet passed away after some time. Then, somebody saw him in a dream and asked: what happened to you (after death)? ‘My Lord had mercy upon me by virtue of a verse of poetry I’d composed:

His neighbor (the son’s neighbor) is His Lord,

Whereas I’m left with my enemy neighbors,

What a difference between mine and his.’

Allah has mercy upon him due to this line of poetry. So, to Allah is the good return; and we mustn’t fear death. You must fear our deeds which are our provision for death; the Almighty says:

{ وَتَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَىٰ ۚ وَاتَّقُونِ يَا أُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ}

(And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O you of understanding.) (Al-Baqara: 197)

You’re never afraid when you have your provision before the All-Merciful.

[1] Hadith no. 1467, Chapter: The best temporary joy of this world is a righteous woman, Suckling Vol. Sahih Muslim

 

[2] Hadith no. 6053, Chapter: “Be in this world as if you were a stranger.” Make the Heart Tender Vol. Sahih Al-Bukhari.