Having a desire (hawa-nafsu) and wish
Man has been endowed with desire (hawa-nafsu), wish and intellect. The purpose of giving man the desire is to distinguish between man and angels. The angels do not have a desire at all.
By fitrah, man has a need to have a family, food, wealth, etc. The desire has some advantages and disadvantages. A controlled desire will produce a good result and an uncontrolled desire will produce otherwise.
Desires enable Man to feel and appreciate the worldly wealth that Allah give to them.Examples of those worldly bounties are like having excellent children, land, high positions in society, dignities and many other blessings given by Allah to man. At the same time though, Islam also remind man not to focus solely on the worldly riches because doing so may divert our attention from remembering the fact that all those riches are from Allah.
Fair in the eyes of men Is the love of things they covet: Women and sons; Heaped-up hoards Of gold and silver; horses Branded (for blood and excellence); And (wealth of) cattle And well-tilled land. Such are the possessions Of this world's life; But with Allah Is the best of the goals (To return to). (A-li 'Imran (3): 14)
O ye who believe! Let not your riches Or your children divert you From the remembrance of Allah. If any act thus, Surely they are the losers. (Al-Munafiqun (63): 9)
Islam stressed that every Muslim should control their desires or otherwise they would suffer in this world and after. Islam also emphasized that every Muslims to fight their desire and control them according to God's law. It is considered Jihad to fight their desires and control our desires as in the following story:
It is reported that once the Prophet was returning from 'jihad' to Madina and he said to his companions on the way: "We are returning from the smaller jihad (war) to the greater jihad." The companions were surprised to hear this because they were in fact returning from active fighting and now they were going to Madina, a peaceful place. The Prophet here meant that actual fighting was a smaller jihad but fighting against one's carnal desires is the greater jihad.
There are many views regarding the above statement. Someone has considered it as a prophet tradition and someone else has considered it otherwise. Actually, according to Ibnu Hajar 'Asqalani (Amirul Mukminin fil Hadith), the above statement comes from
Ibrahim bin 'Ablah. Although, the statement is not a true hadith, but we can accept its meaning due the fact that desire must be controlled with reference to other verses in al - Quran and the prophet traditions.
Possession of mind/intellect
Intellect or aqal in Arabic, is a very valuable gift of god to Man. This trait distinguishes man from the animals. 'Aqal can place a person at a higher or lower position than other creations. By using 'aqal, men are able to differentiate a right thing from the wrong
and have a choice of doing either the right or the wrong. Hence, God has decided that should only be given to a person who has a great or superior 'aqal or 'intellect'.
Allah swt has endowed mankind an 'aqal to supplement us in performing the job of a khalifah. Without 'aqal, it is impossible to perform the role of khalifah on earth. With the use of 'aqal we can explore and manage the world. Nevertheless, man should remember that 'aqal' also has its own limitation. One thing is that 'aqal' does not have any capability to explore unseen matters.
Biological needs
The nature of men (fitrah) have to be full-filled. Some of needs are water, food, rest or relaxation, sleep and sexual needs. Men have to fulfill all these needs so that they will perform their duty as the khalifah on earth. Sex is important for mankind in order to ensure the continuity of human beings generation.
b) Human potential
Man was created as the best amongst God's creatures and was equipped with some special potentials. These potentials enable man to carry out the duty of Khalifah on earth.
In general, the potentials are as follows:
1. Dynamism
2. Creativity and innovative.
3. Adaptability
4. Appreciation of knowledge
Dynamism
Dynamism refers to having strength and power, to adapt and to come out with some reformation and progress. Allah swt has endowed the dynamism potentials to mankind to use it to pursue their ambitions. Dynamism is important for those who want to succeed and improve living. This potential will help a person to improve his life to become a better one.
Mankind should improve their life from poor to rich, from ignorant to a knowledgeable or educated person, and from unskillful to being skillful.
Above all, needs require strong effort from the individual herself/himself. Human beings cannot change their life if they do not use the dynamic potentials they have in order to change.
Creative
Mankind have creative potentials. Creative is co-related with dynamics potential. Both potentials complement each other. If mankind do not have any dynamics potential, they would not be able to create something new.
Individuals, who are dynamic and creative, can create and produce useful things for human life. Through both potentials, human ways of living are able to progress through the use of advanced technologies. It is through both potentials many things have been created which contribute to the human life .
Some examples of the contribution of the creativity are the contribution of the ancient civilization like Egypt Civilization with pyramid building and mummy, Chinese civilization with its Great Wall of China, paper mill and silk; Islamic civilization and its contribution in various discipline of knowledge such as medicine, architecture as well as Western civilization and its contribution in modern technology.
Adaptability
Adaptability means having the ability to accept something new. This potential is co-related with both potentials that we have discussed earlier. These three potentials should be balanced and co-related among them in order to produce a good result.
In some parts of the world, there are communities who remain undeveloped as they refuse to accept modernization, new ideas and reformation. However, communities who practice adaptability and accept modernization, reformation on new ideas would develop tremendously .
Appreciation of knowledge
The truth is that, humans are ready to accept a knowledge. No doubt that knowledge is important for the life of human beings in this world and Hereafter. Without knowledge, it is impossible for men to survive. By nature, mankind are ready to accept knowledge so that they can live happily in this world.
Accepting knowledge is co-related with man's intellect ('aqal). Human should use their 'aqal as a tool to acquire knowledge. Islam has strongly reminded that the objective of every knowledge is to gain God blessing (redha') and not to abuse it. Hence, abusing knowledge is unlawful in Islam.
Factors Behind Deviation of Nature
Even though human is bestowed with human nature and human potentials, their survival in this world is strongly influenced by certain elements.
1. Doubtful (Syubhat)
Doubtful is a phenomenon when someone is unsure of a certain matter. This feeling of uncertainty may slow down the process of choosing the best thing in life.
2. Passion / Lust
When judgement is made based on passion or desire, the tendency of choosing the immoral is high. It is a total mistake when passion is honoured for it will extremely deviate human from the truth.
3. Blind faith. (Unquestioning adoption)
The leaders who create strict rulings and practices to be applied by their followers would only limit the scope of their thinking, whereby hindering the development of the muslim community. In additon, there is a tendency for the deciples of a highly respected leader to folllow their leader irrationally.
4. Proud/ Conceit / self deception (takbur)
Conceited people think that they know all the facts and take advantage of others. They will look down on others and this will lead to an unhealthy environment.
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