What is your advice for those who indulge in sins and desires?

The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : You know what has opened up for people in this age: the love of this world and the immersion in amusements and desires, and what the enemies of Islam are plotting. We want a word for whoever hears this speech or reads it, or advice to return to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and to return to the Book of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He)?

The Shaykh : I think there is nothing more impactful than the admonitions from the Noble Qur'an, and Allah the Exalted has summarized that in His saying: These two verses are among the greatest admonitions for one who reflects. The promise of Allah is true, whether what is promised is reward and recompense for the righteous or punishment and retribution for the sinners; it is a true, firm reality that must come to pass. Then He said, "Let not the life of this world delude you," so that it does not turn you away from what Allah has commanded or cause you to fall into what Allah has forbidden. In reality, the life of this world deludes the foolish, the reckless person, but it does not delude the intelligent, the wise person. How can this world delude a person when, in reality, it is filled and full of worry, grief, distress, and turmoil? As the first poet said:
"There is no sweetness in life as long as it is spoiled *** In its essence by the remembrance of death and old age"
You see a person on the surface of the earth today and in the depths of the earth tomorrow. And as for the one who has passed away, is it not possible that it may happen to you? The answer is yes, it is possible. You may be in the world of this life today and in the world of the Hereafter tomorrow. So how can one be deluded by a home from which a person does not know when he will depart? A home where his departure is not in his hand? A home where he does not know whether the comfort he is in will remain or be removed? So the result is that a person must not be deluded by this world, and he must reflect on his affair, and he must know that he is a passerby in this world to another abode. Even the abode of the graves is not an abode, but it is a visit, as Allah the Exalted said: And the abode is either Paradise or the Fire. I ask Allah to make me and you among the people of Paradise. So it is not befitting for the intelligent person to be deluded by this world Satan and the allies of Satan. So delusion is a generic name, not specific to Satan, but it is general for Satan and his allies. How many are the devils of mankind who delude a person, make him foolish, and cause him to fall into what he will regret? They are the bad companions from whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned, where he said: Then Allah the Mighty and Majestic clarified that a person is not deluded by this world except by his enemy, who is Satan, so He said: And Allah has spoken the truth. The verse here contains a report and a request. The report is His saying: And the request is: Allah has commanded us to take him as an enemy. So if someone says, "How do I know if this is from Satan or from the Most Merciful?" We say: If what has settled in your heart is a love for sins and a hatred for acts of obedience, then from where is it? If what has settled in your heart is a love for sins and a hatred for acts of obedience, then from where is it? It is known to be from Satan. If it is a love for acts of obedience and a hatred for sins, then it is from the Most Merciful, the Mighty and Majestic. This is the sign. Allah the Exalted said: But they are ignorant, they do not know, they are foolish. They think that this is the good, or Satan deludes them and says, "Do it, do it." Then he does it and does not repent. We ask Allah... for ourselves and our worst enemies.