Intermediate
Ethics & Manners
Surah: Ali Imran (14)
Beautified for People Is Love of Desires — Instinct Is Not Condemned But Directed
زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ مِنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ وَٱلۡبَنِينَ
— آل عمران الآية 14
Verse: "Beautified for people is love of desires — women, children, heaped-up gold and silver..." (3:14)
Reflection: "Beautified" in passive — the agent is Allah (one opinion creating natural inclination) or Shaytan (exploiting it). The key: "This is the enjoyment of worldly life" — "mata'" (temporary pleasure) not "hayah" (life).
Lesson: Islam doesn't suppress instinct — it channels it toward lawful means and transforms it from an end to a means.
Reflection: "Beautified" in passive — the agent is Allah (one opinion creating natural inclination) or Shaytan (exploiting it). The key: "This is the enjoyment of worldly life" — "mata'" (temporary pleasure) not "hayah" (life).
Lesson: Islam doesn't suppress instinct — it channels it toward lawful means and transforms it from an end to a means.
Source: Ibn Kathir (2/22); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (4/28)
Test Yourself
What key word does the Quran use to diminish worldly pleasures in this verse?
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