Dealing with Lust and Greed

According to the teachings of Al-Islam, the desires and appetites play a vital part in the make up of every human being; they cannot be ignored. The children of Adam, unlike the angels, face the challenge in this life of mastering these forces within us. If we fail to do so, then we become the servants of our appetites and thus fall below the level of the animal kingdom. The hallmarks and influences of a “civilization” which in practical terms almost enforces the domination of human desires and lusts over the traditional belief in the need to heed one’s conscience and principles and exercise restraint are to be seen all around us. So are the consequences, which are manifestly unhappy in this world. Let alone the Next World. The keys to a happy and fulfilled life are to be found in the guidance contained in the Holy Qur’an and in the Sunna of the Blessed Prophet Muhammad, whose lifestyle embodied a perfect balance between enjoyment and abstention. In this book a distinguished Egyptian writer presents an authoritative and compelling account of the wise and practical teachings of Islam on how to deal with lust and greed. About the author: Sheikh ‘Abd al-Hamid Kishk is one of the foremost Muslim scholars in the world today. For many years he held teaching posts, at Al-Azhar and a number of other universities. At the same time, Sheikh Kishk is renowned for the power and clarity of his speeches and his books. These present the doctrines of Sunni Islam in an eloquent and accessible way and have provided spiritual nourishment and inspiration to millions of people.