Online Class Recording # 5: Breaking the Two Desires

This week's class continued with the study of the transgressions of the limbs with a focus on the stomach and private parts - the two desires or two carnal appetites.

Imam al-Ghazali approaches the topic of eating with a perspective based on consuming pure and halal food, and avoiding products about which one is doubtful.

The topic of al-War' / scrupulousness regarding one's consumption was then discussed by looking at the famous hadith: "The halal is clear and the haram is clear and between them are doubtful matters, which few people know...".

The class finishes with a discussion on sexual relations within the context of the Maqasid al-Shari'ah / Objectives of the Shari'ah, of which the preservation of the means of reproduction and producing the next generation is one of the five central goals.

The question and answer session at the end of the class has been edited out for brevity.