Have You Seen the One Who Took His Desire as His God — The Hidden Modern Idolatry
tadabbur
Level: advanced
akhlaq
td-041
أَفَرَءَيۡتَ مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَٰهَهُۥ هَوَىٰهُ
— الجاثية 23
Verse: "Have you seen the one who takes his desire as his god? Allah led him astray knowingly." (45:23)
"Takes his desire as his god": He doesn't bow to an idol — but makes his whims and desires the primary reference governing his decisions. He permits what he desires, prohibits what he dislikes, delays what is difficult — without divine standard.
"Allah led him astray knowingly": The most severe statement — Allah misguided him knowing his state. This person saw the truth and chose his desire — misguidance came as consequence.
Lesson: Periodic self-check: do my decisions start from the text or from desire?
Source: Ibn Kathir (7/261); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (16/157)
Question: What is the difference between a sinner and one who takes his desire as his god?
Answer: The sinner: acknowledges the prohibition and falls into it. The one whose god is his desire: sees no prohibition in what he craves — justifies everything.