⚠ *Beware of following a position or opinion in Islaam for the mere sake of following your desire*⚠
  *Following your desire Vs Following the Truth*

*Bismillah*

When this religion was one of ease, far removed from burden and hardship, Allaah made the Halal and the Haraam distinguishably clear. Likewise as the Messenger salallahu aleyhi wa Sallam informed, there is between the Halal and Haraam, things which are obscure and unknown to most of mankind, a relatively grey area if you like.

I wanted to address here, something which is manifestly troublesome to some Muslims. For the sake of brevity, we’ll refer to it here as “Fatwa Shopping” (though in reality it encompasses more than this). 
This affair of “Fatwa Shopping” is a main point of difference between Ahlus Sunnah wal jamaa’a and the people of innovation, who are referred to as the people of desires incidently. It is also important to note, that this is not an entirely new concept, quite the opposite, the innovators of old such as the ‘Mu’tazilah and Ashaa’ira used to search far and wide for arabic verses of poetry to aid their corrupt creed of denying Allaah’s Beautiful Names and Lofty Attributes. 

Below, I give examples for adopting a view (which is often aided by the views or statements of scholars), merely for the sake of justifying actions desired by one’s soul. The points in themselves are not necessarily right or incorrect, i.e. that is not what is intended here. 

*Examples:*

*1) The two rakahs upon entering the masjid*
For instance, one may be too lazy to pray two rakahs upon entering the masjid. This laziness then leads him to choose the more convenient fiqh position that the 2 rakahs are recommended and not obligatory. 
*2) Shortening the beard*
One may not want to grow his beard for one reason or another. So he then adopts a fiqh position which compliments his desire, for instance Sheikh Albani’s view that a beard in excess of a fist can be trimmed.

*3) Consuming the meat of the people of the Book*
One may enjoy eating the food of McDonald’s and Pizza Hut and their likes. So then, he uptakes a position which enables him to eat there, fostering the view that they are from Ahlul Kitaab (the people of the book) and thus their meat is Halal and permissible to consume.

*4) Appearing in videos*
One may believe that he can reach greater audiences and his dawah will find more acceptance if he were to use video as a means of dawah. So he subsequently adopts the view that videos are not a form of picture taking, but is similar to a mirror reflection.

✒ So to conclude, the way of Ahlus Sunnah is that they research an affair and then act in accordance to their research outcomes. Whereas the people of desires, adopt a practice or belief first, only to go and search for proofs to support their desire-driven view later.  

⚠ *Beware of this Oh Muslim!*
Allaah says to his Prophet Dawud aleyhi Salaam in the Quran:

يَا دَاوُودُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاكَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ 
*O Dawud! Verily We have placed you as a successor on earth, so judge between men in truth (and justice) and follow not your desire for it WILL MISLEAD you from the Path of Allah.*
_[Saad: Verse 26]_

_And Allaah’s aid is sought. Wa laa howla wa laa quwata ila Billaah._

*Written by*

_Abu Mu’aawiyah Abdullah Hassan_
_غفر الله له ولوالديه_