Throughout life, human beings continually experience an inner struggle within themselves\u2014a tension between what they love and what they resist, between what they desire and what they are compelled to endure despite their reluctance. At every moment, new circumstances arise that test the human soul: one either adapts to them, confronts them, and grows stronger, or fails to adjust and becomes overwhelmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For this reason, the will is an inseparable element of everyday human existence. It operates quietly and often unnoticed, yet its influence is profound, shaping both the psychological and spiritual state of the individual and playing a decisive role in determining the course of one\u2019s life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many psychological disturbances and inner crises are, at their core, nothing more than manifestations of the defeat of the will<\/strong> in the face of situations the soul cannot comprehend, accept, or adapt to. In contrast, true and lasting happiness emerges when the human will becomes unified around a single purpose\u2014when the individual is no longer burdened by inner conflict, scattered desires, or restlessness, and when their entire being turns solely toward God. This state represents the highest form of cultivating and refining the human will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer argued that the true essence of the human being lies not in reason, as commonly believed, but in will and desire<\/strong>. According to him, the will is the primary force that governs human behavior, subordinating reason and logic to serve its aims. A person does not reject an idea because they fail to understand it, but because they are unwilling to understand it. When one desires something, reason readily constructs justifications to support that desire; when one rejects it, reason just as effectively produces arguments against it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Schopenhauer extends this view further by asserting that even the human body is merely an instrument of the will. While the body weakens, ages, and eventually perishes, the will remains active and desiring until the final moment of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From this perspective, he arrives at a deeply pessimistic conclusion: human beings are condemned to perpetual suffering. Desire is never fully satisfied, and the will never finds rest. If desires remain unfulfilled, one suffers from deprivation; if fulfilled, they lead to boredom and dissatisfaction. Thus, human life oscillates endlessly between pain and emptiness, with no true escape\u2014leading Schopenhauer to the conclusion that liberation lies only in escaping life itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eastern philosophies, particularly Buddhism, propose a different solution: silencing the will and suppressing desire altogether. Liberation, in this view, is achieved by detaching oneself from all cravings, which are seen as the root of suffering. Similarly, certain historical expressions of Christianity emphasized radical asceticism and the complete renunciation of worldly desires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Islam, however, offers a distinct and balanced approach. It neither calls for the elimination of desire nor for its unchecked indulgence. Instead, it emphasizes the discipline, refinement, and proper direction of desire<\/strong>. Islam acknowledges human nature as it is, without imposing unrealistic demands or burdens beyond human capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Islam, the will is not regarded with suspicion or contempt but is seen as a noble aspect of human nature. The ability to control oneself reflects inner maturity and spiritual elevation. The issue, therefore, is not whether one desires, but what one desires<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Human desires exist on multiple levels: from basic physical impulses to higher ethical values, and ultimately to spiritual aspirations that culminate in turning entirely toward God:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd to your Lord direct your longing.\u201d (94:8)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Islam does not call for the suppression of the will but for its elevation. It encourages individuals to shift their focus from worldly attachment to the hereafter, from the pursuit of pleasure to the pursuit of meaning, and from admiration of beauty to love for the Creator of beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This perspective also acknowledges that human beings possess a limited will, while God embodies the ultimate and absolute will. Therefore, true mastery of the will requires divine assistance\u2014restraining lower desires through higher purpose and elevating one\u2019s aims from the transient to the eternal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A distinguishing feature of the Islamic worldview is its balanced view of the body. It is neither despised nor rejected but understood as a means that can lead either to spiritual elevation or moral decline. The body is the instrument through which a person obeys or disobeys, and the ladder by which one ascends toward God or descends into the depths of desire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hence the saying of the spiritual scholars:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDetachment from worldly attachments after the loss of the means is impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n This highlights that self-purification can only occur in this life, where the body exists, the will is active, and choice remains possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Modern psychology and medicine have demonstrated the powerful influence of the will over the body, even its vital functions. Yet long before these discoveries, Islam established acts of worship\u2014especially prayer\u2014as daily exercises in detachment, inner calm, and spiritual focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prayer embodies stillness, humility, concentration, and a profound inner dialogue with God\u2014qualities that contemporary societies increasingly seek through various forms of meditation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In essence, religion is not merely a collection of rigid rituals, but a comprehensive path for cultivating the will and shaping the human being from within<\/strong>. Every act of discipline, perseverance, resistance to temptation, and patience in hardship is a step in spiritual development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The highest stage of this journey is the complete unity of purpose: a state in which the heart desires nothing but God, the will seeks nothing but Him, and all actions are devoted solely to His sake. In such a state, the individual attains true devotion and inner peace, experiencing the reality expressed in the verse:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIndeed, in the remembrance of God do hearts find rest.\u201d (13:28)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Whoever seeks true happiness must refine their will, elevate their aspirations, and make God their ultimate aim\u2014for it is there that confusion ends and true peace begins<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Throughout life, human beings continually experience an inner struggle within themselves\u2014a tension between what they love and what they resist, between what they desire and what they are compelled to endure despite their reluctance. At every moment, new circumstances arise that test the human soul: one either adapts to them, confronts them, and grows stronger, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":545,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-544","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/islam.cz\/mosque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/544","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/islam.cz\/mosque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/islam.cz\/mosque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/islam.cz\/mosque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/islam.cz\/mosque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=544"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/islam.cz\/mosque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/544\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":546,"href":"https:\/\/islam.cz\/mosque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/544\/revisions\/546"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/islam.cz\/mosque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/545"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/islam.cz\/mosque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=544"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/islam.cz\/mosque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=544"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/islam.cz\/mosque\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=544"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}The Will in Philosophy: The Case of Schopenhauer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Search for Liberation: Suppressing or Refining Desire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Islam and the Cultivation of the Will: A Profound Perspective<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The Body in Islam: A Means of Ascent, Not a Burden<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The Will and Worship: Prayer as a Living Practice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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