The prominent Muslim scholar Sheikh MuhammadIqbalNadvi, director and imam of Al-Falah Islamic Center in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, states the following: “The statement has to be understood in a different way. We all have desires to so many things in this word, as attested in the Qur’an: “Beautified for mankind is love of the joys (that come) from women and offspring; and stored-up heaps of gold and silver, and horses branded (with their mark), and cattle and land. That is comfort of the life of the world. Allah! With Him is a more excellent abode.” (Aal-`Imran 3: 14)
Therefore, there can never be any denial of one’s desires, however all us are commanded to do is to make our desires in the service of Allah and not to disobey him. For example, if you desire money, your intention has to be sincere and pure that you are not after money in order to commit sins, but rather to do good works and enjoy life in the lawful way that is not against Allah’s desire. In brief, your desires cannot be against the desire of Allah, but rather in harmony with. That is how you do everything to please Allah.”