Is he considered an infidel, outside the fold of Islam, one who follows his desires in love, hatred, judgment, and fear, in accordance with the Almighty's saying: "Have you seen him who takes his own lust [and desires] as his god, and Allah sends him astray knowingly, and seals up his hearing and his heart, and puts a covering on his sight? Who then will guide him after Allah? Will you not then remember?" (Al-Jathiyah/23), like one who loves fornication intensely and abandons prayer, jihad, fasting, and Hajj for its sake, and refuses to repent or feel remorse for it?

Allah condemns the following of desires (hawa) in many verses, and following them is not of a single degree. Some instances may constitute major disbelief (kufr akbar) or major polytheism (shirk akbar), while others may be major or minor sins.

If desires lead to denying the Messenger, or mocking him, or turning away from him, then this is major polytheism. This also applies to anything that desires lead to, whether major polytheism or major disbelief, such as invoking the dead or denying what is known by necessity.

If desires lead to swearing by other than Allah or to showing off (riya'), then this is minor polytheism (shirk asghar). If they lead to a non-disbelieving innovation (bid'ah), then one is an innovator. If they lead to a major sin (kabirah) like fornication or drinking alcohol without deeming it permissible, then one is a transgressor (fasiq). If they lead to a minor sin (saghirah), then one is disobedient but not a transgressor.

Therefore, following desires leads to varying outcomes, and it is incorrect to say that everyone who follows their desires is an absolute disbeliever.

The phrase "who has taken his god his desire" (man ittakhadha ilahahu hawahu) encompasses both major and minor polytheism. Anyone who attaches themselves to other than Allah has taken that other as a god. Some scholars are of the view that all sins fall under polytheism in its general sense, because every disobedient person to Allah is following their desires, as in the Hadith, "Wretched is the slave of the dinar." However, determining whether an act constitutes major or minor disbelief refers back to the rules and evidence of Islamic law.

Taking desires as a god occurs by following them and submitting to them. This may lead its perpetrator to major or minor polytheism, innovation, major sin, or minor sin. For example, loving fornication without deeming it permissible, or abandoning prayer, does not lead one out of Islam. However, deeming it permissible, or not being content with its prohibition, or abandoning prayer because of it, is considered disbelief.