The Principle Of Love & Desire

by Ibn Taymiyyah

The Principle of Love and Desire is one of Ibn Taymiyyah’s many important works on ‘aqīdah. In it, he explains how love is the basis of every movement that occurs in the universe and every action of Bani Ādam. He explains that love necessitates hate for the things that oppose what one loves, and that this love and hate is the foundation of Islām, tawḥīd, and īmān. He also discusses the many sects that strayed from Allāh’s straight path due to their misunderstanding of this fundamental principle.

Genres: Islam, Theology, Religion

291 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1328

About the author

Taqī ad-Dīn Aḥmad ibn Abd al-Halim ibn Abd al-Salam al-Numayri al-Ḥarrānī (Arabic: تقي الدين أحمد بن عبد الحليم بن عبد السلام النميري الحراني‎, January 22, 1263 - September 26, 1328), known simply Ibn Taymiyyah (ابن تيمية), was an Islamic jurist scholar, muhaddith, theologian, judge, philosopher, and whom many considered as the renewer of the Islamic 7th century. He is known for his diplomatic involvement with the Ilkhanid ruler Ghazan Khan and for his involvement at the Battle of Marj al-Saffar which ended the Mongol invasions of the Levant. A member of the Hanbali school, Ibn Taymiyyah's iconoclastic views on widely accepted Sunni doctrines of his time such as the veneration of saints and the visitation to their tomb-shrines made him unpopular with many scholars and rulers of the time, under whose orders he was imprisoned several times.

A polarising figure in his own times and in the centuries that followed, Ibn Taymiyyah has become one of the most influential medieval writers in contemporary Islam, where his particular interpretations of the Qur'an and the Sunnah and his rejection of some aspects of classical Islamic tradition are believed to have had considerable influence on contemporary ultra-conservative ideologies such as Salafism, and Jihadism. Particular aspects of his teachings had a profound influence on Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the founder of the Hanbali reform movement practiced in Saudi Arabia, and on other later Wahabi scholars. Moreover, Ibn Taymiyyah's controversial fatwa allowing jihad against other Muslims is referenced by al-Qaeda and other jihadi groups. Their reading of Ibn Taymiyyah's thought has been challenged by recent scholarship.

Reviews

[Nu]

How does one begin to give a review of Shayk-ul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah? He is such a legend of Islamic Scholarship and I am truly in awe and left with so much to think about.

The Principle of Love and Desire captures the position of Ibn Taymiyyah in accordance with Islam on the catalyst for actions, all while he refutes the people of kalam and innovation effortlessly.

Ibn Taymiyyah emphasizes that the most knowledgeable (knowledge as defined Islamically) are those whose opinions (istihsan, istilah and qiyas) are in accordance with textual evidence. He distinguishes al-uluhiyya and rububiyyah and re-emphasises the position that worshiping the Creator and glorifying Him is the final objective of the creation and is the source of benefit to the creation (this being a direct refutation to the philosophers who neglect this aspect in their writings).

The Sheikh states, worship combines complete love and complete submission. Unlike the submission of one to an oppressive ruler out of fear - no person with good sense would call this love (hence this cannot be worship since obedience is there but not love). In this same vein, a declaration of love without action or submission cannot be called worship (since love is there but no obedience). The two must go together to necessitate worship.

This too uncovers the mindset of some when they try to critique Islam, some say "you are scared of your God and that's why you obey - that's why I don't like your religion" but this exposes their own fallacy - it exposes how they view obedience. They view obedience as something that can only be accomplished via ruthlessness because by nature they reject obedience and will unconsciously vehemently reject being obedient to anything or anyone. This type of person thinks very highly of themselves and may suffer from the illness of holding their own intellect or perceived value higher than anyone else, proudly and arrogantly all while following their vain desires.

The second accusation against Islam is the one who says "I love God but don't believe in rules... live an let live" (essentially love without action or expectations of actions) Perhaps this group of people dislike to be held accountable for anything, dislike to complete an action that they don't "feel like doing" because they want to never be condemned for not doing something, they never want to be accountable so they will perpetuate a doctoring that will influence everyone around them to have no expectations of actions thereby creating an environment without rules or expectations (maybe even an environment of perpetual indulgence in pleasures without thinking of any harmful effects it may have on themselves and others) - to be free of burdens of responsibility that shackle them. This fallacy of the mind is essentially an addiction to "feeling good" since they never derive pleasure from doing things that may not be pleasant - they are obsessed with their feelings and hold themselves and their feelings as devine guidance besides God.
- or the person may fear people and being disliked or care too much about how people perceive them, whichever it may be, it's focus is self pleasure and dislike for being critiqued.

There is so much more to ponder and I will certainly be back to update this review.

[Bintbooks]

3.5

"There is no hate without love. A hated action in the world only exists due to its opposition to
something that is loved. If love did not exist for that thing, there would be no hatred for its opposite. However, love is different - one may love something for what it is, not out of opposition to something hated. A person's hatred and anger is elicited by the things that prevent him from the things he loves, and an obstacle and a prerequisite that he cannot be made to do. It is found that the
hatred is more severe if it is for something that prohibits someone from what they love."

"Love and desire are the foundations of hate and dislike, and the foundations for the removal of the things that are hated and disliked. Therefore, hatred does not exist except for love, and it cannot be removed except with love."

"every action is born out of love and desire, and every inaction or avoidance of action is born out of hate and dislike, and every person is a hammām (worker) and a härith (person with intent) who loves and hates; there is no living person who does not possess these two emotions, and his actions follow his love and his hatred."

I liked many chapters of this book especially around the emotions of love and hate, what is true submission to Allah, the illogical arguments of the Sufis and Ilm-ul kalam (philosophers), the subtle and overt ways of shirk can manifest with things that we love if we don't keep our desires in check. Chapter five and some others though were quite difficult for understand - definitely one that I would've needed an ustadh/ustadha to explain. Ibn Taymiyyah is so thorough with a copious amount of ayah, hadith and statement of the Salaf to back of his points. May Allah have mercy on him and make us of those who truly love Allah and find his actions as loving.