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The Meaning of Desire

The meaning of desire and aversion: “And who would be averse” refers to someone who, without the command of God Almighty and divine proof, turns away from the religion of Abraham, which in that era, apart from the central elements of Islam, had a specific law and a particular method. Therefore, although Muhammad (s.a.w.), while preserving the central elements of Abraham’s religion, turned away from some minor branches of it that were part of the law and method; however, this desire, being by God’s command, is praiseworthy, which is referred to as “abrogation” (al-naskh). Thus, the objection reported in Fakhr Rāzī’s exegesis is not valid. The essence of that objection is that the word “religion” includes both principles and branches, so Muhammad (s.a.w.) also deviated from and desired away from Abraham’s religion in part, not in whole(209).