Being a Slave to Desires: The Hidden Bondage of the Modern Age

There are two fundamental tendencies in human nature: a longing for eternity and a search for meaning. The modern world, however, attempts to silence these two deep needs with temporary satisfactions. Climbing career ladders, gaining social status, achieving material prosperity, collecting likes on social media... All of these are presented to us as "success." But can these successes fill the void in the depths of the soul? Or what value do the things attained in this world hold in the face of eternity? The Anatomy of Illusion: The Myth of Success Contemporary society offers us a particular success scenario: Get a good education, land a prestigious job, climb the career ladder quickly, earn the admiration of society, accumulate material wealth. This formula is presented as if it were a guaranteed recipe for happiness. Yet the millions of people walking this path eventually find themselves in a state of deep dissatisfaction. Why? Because these goals never end. When one step is climbed, the next appears. When one gain is achieved, a larger one becomes tempting. Within this cycle, a person constantly lives for "the next thing" but never gets to taste the peace of "now." In verse 157 of Surah Āl-i İmrān, Allah says: "And if you are killed in the cause of Allah or die — then forgiveness from Allah and mercy are better than whatever they accumulate." This verse reminds us of a fundamental truth: No matter how much we accumulate in this world, no matter how much we gather, none of it can reach the worth of Allah's mercy. Material gain, career, fame... These all end with death. But even the smallest good deed done for Allah is carried into eternity. Making Desire One's God: Contemporary Mushrik Tendencies The question in verse 43 of Surah Al-Furqān is striking: "Have you seen the one who takes as his god his own desire? Then would you be responsible for him?" This verse puts its finger on the deepest ailment of modern man. The contemporary person, who at first glance considers himself free and thinks he bows to no authority, is in fact in the most rigid form of bondage: the bondage of his ego and desires. How does this bondage work? When a person places his desires at the center of his life and makes satisfying them the purpose of his existence, he has in fact deified those desires. More money, a higher position, more followers, a more luxurious life... The emptiness inside never fills, and every gain provides only temporary satisfaction. So why does this cycle never end? Because the ego is a well that knows no satiation. The more you give it, the more it demands. If you become famous, you want to be more famous. If you become rich, you want to be richer. When one goal is achieved, it loses its meaning and a new goal is set. This endless race exhausts people, wears them down, and ultimately leaves them unhappy. The Approval of Others: Invisible Chains Another form of bondage for modern man is living for the praise and approval of others. The age of social media has deepened this problem further. People now assign value to themselves based on how many likes their posts receive, how positive the comments are, and whether their follower count is growing. In verse 29 of Surah Az-Zumar, Allah gives the following parable: "Allah presents an example: a man being argued over by partners in disagreement, and another man belonging exclusively to one man — are they equal in comparison?" This verse points to a profound truth: Can the situation of a slave serving many masters be the same as that of a slave serving only one? The person who lives for the approval of others becomes trapped between constantly conflicting expectations. He tries to please everyone but can fully please no one. What he does to gain one group's approval causes another group's criticism. In the end, he forgets how to be himself and constantly takes shape according to others' expectations. This leads to a deep identity crisis. Yet true freedom is to live by seeking only Allah's pleasure. The applause of people is fleeting — today's admirers forget tomorrow. What is appreciated today is criticized tomorrow. But Allah's pleasure is permanent, unchanging, extending into eternity. Beyond Transience: Leaving a Lasting Mark Consider someone who lived fifty years ago — someone who was at the peak of their career, held a respected place in society, and was materially wealthy. How many people remember that person's name today? What significance do their career achievements hold now? The wealth they accumulated, the titles they earned, the awards they received... Which of these carries any meaning today? This reality shows us: No matter how brilliant worldly successes may appear, they are temporary — they are forgotten and fade away. But good deeds done for Allah are different. A meal offered to an orphan, charity given to the poor, knowledge shared, a kind word, a prayer... These are deeds that are invisible yet recorded in eternity. Leaving a lasting mark does not pass through fame or social status. A lasting mark comes from living in accordance with Allah's pleasure and acting for His sake. Because this is the true purpose of our existence in this world: to worship Allah and to earn His pleasure. The Paradox of Freedom: Finding Liberation Through Submission The modern world defines freedom for us as follows: Do what you want, be bound by no rules, answer to no one. But this understanding does not liberate a person — on the contrary, it drags them into a deeper bondage. Because a person who recognizes no rule submits to the rules of his ego and desires. True freedom, paradoxically, comes through submission: submission to Allah. When a person gives up being a slave to his ego and to the approval of others, and decides to live by seeking only Allah's pleasure — that is when he truly becomes free. This submission is the key to peace for the human soul. Because there is no longer a need to constantly run, constantly try to please others, constantly strive to obtain more. The only thing required is to walk on the straight path that Allah has determined. This path is clear, plain, and tranquil. Questioning: What Are We Enslaved To? The question "Have you seen the one who takes as his god his own desire?" requires each of us to look back at our own lives. What is the first thing that comes to our mind when we wake up in the morning? What do we think about most during the day — our career, our material gain, our social status, or Allah's pleasure? By what criteria do we make our decisions? Do we ask questions like "What will this earn me?", "What will people say?", "How will this contribute to my career?" — or do we ask "Is this in accordance with Allah's pleasure?", "Will this benefit me in the afterlife?"? What do we spend our time on? Is our priority spending hours on social media, constantly chasing more gain, trying to increase our social visibility? Or is it worship, knowledge, doing good, and drawing closer to Allah? These questions may be uncomfortable because they confront us with reality. But this confrontation is essential. Because knowing what we are enslaved to determines the meaning and direction of our lives. Reprioritizing: An Afterlife-Oriented Life So what should we do? Is it forbidden to build a career, earn money, or gain a respected place in society? Of course not. Islam encourages work, production, and lawful earnings. But the problem lies here: Are these things the purpose of life, or merely its means? An afterlife-oriented life does not mean abandoning the world. It means working, earning, and producing in this world while doing these things for Allah's pleasure and viewing them as a means of preparation for the afterlife. Earning money is not wrong, but deifying money and sacrificing everything for it is wrong. Having a career is not incorrect, but making the career the center of life and sacrificing the afterlife for it is incorrect. Priorities must be clear: Worship, closeness to Allah, and preparation for the afterlife come first. Worldly affairs are tools that serve these. A person who lives with this perspective will find peace in this world and will depart having prepared for the afterlife. Choosing What Is Permanent Human life is short — an average of 70 to 80 years. Half of this passes with childhood, old age, sleep, and similar states. The truly productive time left to us is perhaps 30 to 40 years. What are we spending this short time on? The reality of death grants us the clearest perspective. Consider: when you are on your deathbed thinking of what you leave behind, will the career steps seem important — or the good deeds you did for Allah? Will the value society assigned to you bring peace — or the possibility of having earned Allah's pleasure? The fundamental question every person must ask themselves is this: "What am I chasing, and will what I am chasing carry me into eternity?" If the answer is no, perhaps it is time to reconsider. True peace is hidden in submission to Allah. Freeing oneself from being a slave to one's ego, to the approval of others, and to the fleeting allure of the world is only possible through this submission. And only this submission can lead us to peace in this world and salvation in the afterlife. In conclusion: Making one's god out of one's desires is the most widespread ailment of our age. Its cure is a sincere return to servitude before Allah. This return guarantees our freedom, our peace, and our eternal salvation.