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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Islamic Family-life Ethics The Second Talk Islam and Human Inclinations Islam ordains that we should fulfill our natural instincts and inclinations. It is mentioned in many traditions that human beings have no right to suppress their natural instincts and emotions under false notions of morality. The Quran says that just as a person should be concerned about his hereafter, he should also be concerned about his worldly life.

Allah loveth not corrupters. (Sura al Qasas 28:77) This means that you should utilize whatever wealth and status Allah has bestowed on you to prepare for your hereafter. But remember that you should not ignore your worldly needs in the process. You should strike a balance between the two and not lean overly to one side. Getting totally absorbed with worldly matters only is not desirable.

Similarly, dedicating one’s wealth, health, youth and wisdom only for the hereafter too is not required of a person. During the time of the Prophet (s) and his vicegerents, some people had adopted a misguided way. They wrongly thought that a person has to think only of the hereafter all the time and that the world should be shunned. They believed that they should abstain from the natural and legitimate instincts.

But when the Prophet (s) and the Imams (a.s.) learnt of this erroneous view, they opposed it strongly. The author of Wasail quotes one tradition thus: Three women approached the Prophet (s) one day. One of them said, “O Prophet! My husband has shunned the company of his wife.” The second said, “My husband has stopped eating meat!” The third said, “My husband has stopped using perfume!” Hearing the women, the Prophet (s) was upset.

He saw that misguided ideas were beginning to take root amongst his followers. Although it was not the time for any mandatory prayer, he proceeded to the mosque.