Abandoning lustful desires is the best worship and the most beautiful habit.

Abandoning lustful desires is the best worship and the most beautiful habit. 21ـ تَرْكُ الشَّهَواتِ أفْضَلُ عِبادَة وأجْمَلُ عادَة. The sweetness of lust is made bitter by the shame of ignominy [and humiliation]. 22ـ حَلاوَةُ الشَّهْوَةِ يُنَغِّصُها عارُ الفَضيحَةِ. Repulsing lust is more effective in exterminating it while fulfilling it only makes it more intense. 23ـ رَدُّ الشَّهْوَةِ أقْضى لَها وقَضائُها أشَدُّ لَها. Inhibiting lust and anger is the struggle of the noble ones.

24ـ رَدْعُ الشَّهْوَةِ والغَضَبِ جِهادُ النُّبَلاءِ. Increased lust degrades magnanimity. 25ـ زيادَةُ الشَّهْوَةِ تُزْري بِالمُرُوءَةِ. Being overpowered by lust is the cause of evil. 26ـ سَبَبُ الشَّـرِّ غَلَبَةُ الشَّهْوَةِ The flame of lust induces the impairment [and destruction] of the soul. 27ـ ضِرامُ الشَّهْوَةِ تَبْعَثُ عَلى تَلَفِ المُهْجَةِ. Counter lust with restraint. 28ـ ضادُّوا الشَّهْوَةَ بِالقَمْعِ.

Oppose lust as a rival would oppose his rival and fight it as an enemy would fight his enemy. 29ـ ضادُّوا الشَّهْوَةَ مُضادَّةَ الضِّدِ ضِدَّهُ، وحارِبُوها مُحارَبَةَ العَدُوِّ العَدُوَّ. Obeying one’s lust corrupts the faith. 30ـ طاعَةُ الشَّهْوَةِ تُفْسِدُ الدّينَ. Obedience to lust is destruction and disobedience to it is dominion. 31ـ طاعَةُ الشَّهْوَةِ هُلْكٌ، ومَعْصِيَتُها مُِلْكٌ. He who turns away from the lustful desires of this world attains the Garden of Repose [in the Hereafter].

32ـ ظَفِرَ بِجَنَّةِ المَأوى مَنْ أعْرَضَ عَنْ شَهَواتِ الدُّنيا. The slave to lust is lowlier than the slave of a human being. 33ـ عَبْدُ الشَّهْوَةِ أذَلُّ مِنْ عَبْدِ الرِّقِ. The slave to lust is a prisoner who cannot be freed from his imprisonment. 34ـ عَبْدُ الشَّهْوَةِ أسيرٌ لايَنْفَكُّ أسْـرُهُ. The heart that is attached to lustful desires is unable to benefit from sincere exhortations. 35ـ غَيْـرُ مُنْتَفِع بِالعِظاتِ قَلْبٌ مُتَعَلِّقٌ بِالشَّهَوابِ.

Being overpowered by lust is the greatest destruction, and controlling it is the most honourable dominance. 36ـ غَلَبَةُ الشَّهْوَةِ أعْظَمُ هُلْك، ومُِلْكُها أشْرَفُ مُِلْك. Being overpowered by lust nullifies preservation [of oneself from sin] and leads to destruction. 37ـ غَلَبَةُ الشَّهْوَةِ تُبْطِلُ العِصْمَةَ وتُورِدُ الهُلْكَ.