Differentiate between needs & desires


Allah (Most Exalted) says;

‘whereas for the one who feared to stand before his Lord,

and restrained his self from the (evil) desire,[79:40]

the Paradise will be the abode.[79:41]

So, have you seen him who has taken his desires as his god, and

Allah has let him go astray, despite having knowledge, and has sealed his ear and his heart, and put a cover on his eye?

Now who will guide him after Allah? Still, do you not take lesson? (45:23)

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A need is something that is necessary for an individual to live a healthy life.

Needs are distinguished from desires because a deficiency would cause a clear negative outcome, such as dysfunction or death.

Desire is a sense of longing for a person or object or hoping for an outcome.

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These desires may be permissible or impermissible.

The Shariah decides these limits and their rulings. The way of Sunna delineates how to safeguard these limits. Finally, the tariqat ensures how these limits are effectively implemented in one’s life practically.  Hence, a faithful believer is ensured salvation from the above mentioned Quranic admonition.