Critical Muslim 51: Desire

To be human is to desire. But often desire finds itself in opposition to values and virtues. Giving in to one’s desires denies one moral righteousness; in the Islamic tradition, humanity, tested by selfish wants, must temper and tame our earthly desires through faith. In this issue of Critical Muslim, desire will be given an updated analysis for our contemporary world. Being a good person must consist of a life devoted to more than subduing desire. And why must desire be the bogeyman? Is it any of our business? Postmodernism says to let people choose what they desire and pursue. Yet temperance has value in a neoliberal world of opulent consumption. There must be a way to find not only the beauty in our desires, but also the ethical alternatives available for our own and our planet’s wellbeing. Or is this having our cake and eating it too?

About Critical Muslim: A quarterly publication of ideas and issues showcasing groundbreaking thinking on Islam and what it means to be a Muslim in a rapidly changing, interconnected world. Each edition centers on a discrete theme, and contributions include reportage, academic analysis, cultural commentary, photography, poetry, and book reviews.

Ziauddin Sardar is a renowned writer, broadcaster and cultural critic. A former columnist on the New Statesman, he has also served as a Commissioner on the Equality and Human Rights Commission. He is professor of Law and society at Middlesex University, and the author of numerous books, the most recent being Reading the Qur’an (OUP); Desperately Seeking Paradise: Journeys of a Sceptical Muslim; What Do Muslims Believe?, and Balti Britain: A Provocative Journey Through Asian Britain.