He has likewise encouraged “renunciation” and condemned its opposite in His words:

“Whoever desires the life of this world and its adornments—We will repay them in full for their deeds therein, and they will not be deprived therein. Those are the ones for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but the Fire.”

Allah Most High also says:

“Competition for more distracts you”—and the rest of the surah.

Allah Most High says:

“And you devour inheritance altogether, and love wealth with immense love.”

He also says:

“Indeed, man is ungrateful to his Lord, and he himself bears witness to that. And indeed, he is intense in his love of wealth.”

Allah Most High says:

“Know that the life of this world is but play, amusement, adornment, and boasting among yourselves”—and the rest of the verse.

This is a vast subject. The purpose here is simply to distinguish “renunciation prescribed by the revealed law”—which is praiseworthy—from other forms of renunciation, and “desire prescribed by the revealed law”—which is praiseworthy—from other forms of desire. Renunciation is often confused with laziness, incapacity, and idleness in fulfilling the commands of the revealed law. Likewise, prescribed desire is often confused with greed, covetousness, and activity whose undertaking amounts to misguided striving.

As for “scrupulousness,” it means avoiding an action, guarding against it, refraining and holding back from it, and being wary of it. It comes down to disliking something, feeling averse to it, and hating it. This, too, is a positive reality—although there is disagreement over what a prohibition requires: is it the nonoccurrence of the prohibited act, or the performance of its opposite? Most proponents of affirmation hold the latter view. There is thus no doubt that a person cannot be described as scrupulous, as exercising scrupulous restraint, or as guarding against sin unless he actually refrains and holds back, which constitutes doing the opposite of what is prohibited.