Follow Principles,
Not Your Desires

If people provoke you and you react, you are following your desires. The prophetic method, in the face of provocation, is to tread the path of patience and avoidance.

According to Abdullah ibn Umar, the Prophet of Islam once observed: “None of you can be a believer until his desires become subservient to what I have brought.” (al-Sunnah, Ibn Abi Asim 15)

From this prophetic saying we learn that there are two ways of acting in this world: one is following one’s desires and the other is following the divine message conveyed by the Prophet.

Truth came before you and your heart affirmed that this was the truth, but along with this, consciously or unconsciously, you had this feeling that if I accepted the truth my position would be lowered. If you believe the truth, then it means following what the Prophet brought, but if you deny the truth, it means following your desires.

You were criticized by someone and your ego was hurt. You were disturbed and angry. Now at that moment you are reminded of that command given by the Prophet, not to become arrogant, but to live among others with modesty. Now if you adopted the way of modesty in answer to the criticism, it is like following the teaching of the Prophet. But if you reacted to the criticism, it is following your desires.

When someone’s behaviour hurts you, you became provoked. But a teaching of Islam is that if people provoke you, even then you must tread the path of patience and avoidance. Now, if you adopt patience in the face of provocation, it is like following what the Prophet has laid down. But if you started fighting with the party who provoked you, it is like following your desires. This is true of life in its entirety. In every situation there are two alternatives: either be modest and forgiving, or react to the situation. The latter is to be avoided.