The Desire-Hawa-

Do you see the one who took as his god his own vain desire (hawa) and [consequently]

God left him to stray? and has set a seal upon his hearing and his heart and put over his vision a veil? So who will guide him after

Allah? Then will you not be reminded? Al Jathiyah : 23

Although in its literal sense, hawa can mean a passing whim, and inclination, or a desire, without

necessarily leading to either the formulation or the expression of an opinion, the ulama have

nevertheless used it to imply an opinion which originates in these impulses. Hawa has been defined

as 'the pleasure-seeking inclination of the soul towards that which is not permitted by the Shariah.

The Quran refers to hawa in contradistinction to guidance (huda, dhikr), and identifies it with

deviation from the truth which the Quran itself has expounded. It is in this sense that the Quran warns the believers, on no less than twenty-five occasions,

against the dangers and temptations of hawa and the hold that it can have on the hearts and minds of

people.

The phrase 'capricious people' (ahl al-hawa) typically refers to those who say what they please,

and who violate the truth by indulging in corrupt and distorted interpretations which are

unacceptable to the believer. For, whenever opinion is allowed to follow personal prejudice and desire, it

leads to divergence from the truth and even to outright falsehood.

The personal desire to be the winner at all costs, regardless of the merit of one's case, and without

concern for the well-being of others, is an instance of hawa. One of the worst forms of hawa is when

personal craving for superiority and power masquerades under specious reasoning and

plausible argumentation in the name of justice, piety, and truth.

Jazak Allah Khair