\u0628\u0633\u0645 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 \u0627\u0644\u0631\u062d\u0645\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0631\u062d\u064a\u0645<\/p>\n
Allah Ta\u2019ala<\/em> has warned us against our own nafs<\/em>, egos <\/span>and desires in many verses of the Quran Majid<\/em>. For instance, He Ta\u2019ala<\/em> said, \u201cAnd who is more astray than one who follows his desire<\/strong> without guidance from Allah? Indeed, Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.\u201d[1]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut what is the nafs<\/em> (ego) exactly? The nafs<\/em> (ego) is the tendency for self-preservation gone mad. It has two aspects: a static ugly presence lurking in the soul comprised of acquired memories and tendencies, and a moving stream of internal chatter flowing from it. Consequently, the nafs<\/em> (ego) is always saying \u2018me, me, me\u2019; always seeking itself, and only itself; always looking for attention and recognition; always puffing its own self up under whatever excuse it can find; always boasting and showing off at the slightest opportunity; always arrogant and wanting leadership or domination; always insisting on its own arbitrary ways; always remembering and savouring its little victories; always trying to prompt flattery from others; always brooding and fuming over perceived or imagined slights and insults; envious of others; selfish; callous towards people’s needs and feelings; caring nothing really for the good; wishing no one well; easily irritable, resentful and quick to fly into a rage and use harsh words or violence (if it feels it has enough power); secretly hating others who do not pander to it, and wanting to crush them; always wanting food, sex, and comfort; always wanting to own and hoard things; greedy; insatiable; never satisfied; never still; incapable of patience; lazy; lying without thought; believing in nothing; living in fantasies, yet secretly cowardly and never wanting to leave its comfort-zone, nor oppose its own whims and caprices; and at last, given to absolute terror at the thought of death.\u201d[2]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Allah Ta\u2019ala<\/em> quoted Yusuf \u0639\u0644\u064a\u0647 \u0627\u0644\u0633\u0644\u0627\u0645 saying, \u201cI do not absolve my own nafs<\/em>. Verily the nafs<\/em> feverishly commands to evil, except those whom my Sustainer may show mercy.\u201d[3]<\/a>\u00a0In other words, the nafs<\/em> and egos of the vast majority of people drive them to the above evils. Many people are grossly oblivious to the existence of these tendencies within themselves. As a result, despite the immense destruction that these qualities wreck, they maintain a delusional sense of piety and purity. This ignorance is perhaps even more detrimental than having these evil qualities [while acknowledging them]. Thus, Allah Ta\u2019ala<\/em> says, \u201cDo not consider yourselves to be pure [from evil traits]! He [Allah] knows best who are the [truly] righteous.\u201d[4]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Every naf<\/em><\/span>s is imbued with these qualities. Allah Ta’ala says, \u201cWe infused it with base desires as well as the propensity for righteousness.\u201d[5]<\/a> It is by opposing these existent evil tendencies that we attain Jannah<\/i>. Allah says, \u201cAs for he who fears standing before his Sustainer and prevents the soul (nafs<\/em>) from desires, then indeed, Paradise will be [his] refuge.\u201d[6]<\/a> Until we do not begin to recognize and acknowledge the wicked traits of the nafs<\/em>, we would not be able to fight against it and prevent it from its evil impulses. This is the beginning of the greatest jihad<\/em>. The Prophet \ufdfa said, \u201cThe true warrior (mujahid<\/em>) is the one who fights against his own ego (nafs<\/em>).\u201d[7]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Normally, we would be able to observe the ego within ourselves with the assistance of periods of silence, solitude, lots of <\/span>prayer, fasting and concentration. However, since we are so deep in heedlessness and the world around us glamorizes narcissism, most of us would need the long company (suhbah<\/em>) of the saliheen<\/em> (righteous) and\/or the diagnosis of an expert murabbi <\/em>and shaikh <\/em>of tazkiyah <\/em>to detect the cunning of our egos.<\/span><\/p>\n May Allah allow us to detect the tricks of our egos and may He allow us to rectify our <\/span>souls, because only the one who reaches Allah with a sound heart and pure soul will enter Jannah<\/em>. Allah says, \u201cThe Day on which neither wealth will be of any use, nor children, [and when] only he [will be successful] who comes before Allah with a sound heart.\u201d[8]<\/a> He also said, \u201cO the contented soul! Return towards your Lord \u2013 you <\/span>being pleased with Him, and He pleased with you! Then enter the ranks of My chosen bondmen! And come into My Paradise!\u201d[9]<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cO Allah bestow on my soul its taqwa. Purify it, for You are the Best One to purify it. You alone are its Guardian and Master,\u201d<\/em> is a prophetic dua<\/em> collected by Muslim in his Sahih<\/em>. [10]<\/span><\/p>\n <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Surah Al-Qasas: 50<\/span><\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Ghazi\u2019s The Truly Happy Life Pg.51<\/span><\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Surah Yusuf: 53<\/span><\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Surah Najm:32<\/span><\/p>\n [5]<\/a> Surah Shams: 8.<\/span><\/p>\n [6]<\/a> Surah An-Nazi\u2019at: 41-41<\/span><\/p>\n [7]<\/a> Tirmidhi #1621 and he graded it sound and authentic.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
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