Topic: I Want To Fight My Soul So What Is The Way?


abu.aisha    -- 02-02-2003 @ 12:00 AM
 
I Want To Fight My Soul So What Is The Way?

Author: Nawwal Bint Abdullaah
(Translated by Abu Iyaad)


All Praise is due to Allaah the Rabb of all the Worlds and prayers and peace upon the best creation of Allaah.

To proceed:

We hear many complaints from the people. Most of their complaints are related to their souls, which command them what is evil. They also complain about the evil of their actions. One of them says:

Indeed I have been put to trial with four, they did not afflict me
Except due to my misfortune and wretchedness
Iblees, the world, the soul and the desire
How will this end when they are my enemies, all of them

So we find some of them saying 'I have tried many times, repeatedly, to turn my soul away from committing these specific acts of disobedience but my efforts have failed.'

Another one says: 'I tried to get my soul to perform acts of obedience (to Allaah), good and righteous deeds but I am not able to remain firm upon them, I leave them so quickly.'

And we hear a third one say: 'I have repented from many evil actions and promised myself that I would not commit them again. However after the passing of time and being occupied much it did not take long before I returned to them. In fact I fell into others and increased in them.'

If we were to look at the condition of these people we would realise that among the reasons for their not being able to dominate and control their souls and not being able to remain firm upon what they have promised themselves is their lack of striving against their souls. In fact they have left the fetters and reins for the soul so that it leads them and plays with them however it wills. The soul is such that if it is not fought against and controlled it commands its possessor to commit evil and obscene deeds. These people, because they have not fought against their souls and controlled them in that which Allaah loves and is pleased with, are not able to remain constant in their (good) actions. For this reason it is necessary for them to control their souls for Allaah's pleasure and His obedience. Not that it should control them and as a result destroy them

It is vital that a person launches a war against his soul. One which is not haphazard or aimless but rather a firm and determined one in which he uses the weapons of faith (eemaan), sincerity to Allaah (ikhlaas), patience (sabr) and supplication (du'a). He uses them until he is able to overcome this mischievous enemy which is concealed between the two sides of his body [the soul, which commands the evil]. As a result he tames and pacifies it and makes it obedient, humble and submissive to the command of Allaah.

For this reason we find that Ibn al-Qayyim (rh) says: 'Since the jihaad against the enemies of Allaah outwardly (i.e. physically) is a branch of the jihaad of the servant against his own soul for the sake of Allaah...'

The jihaad that is greater and mightier than the jihaad against the disbelievers and pagans is the jihaad of a person against his own soul for the sake of Allaah, just as the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) said: "The Mujaahid is the one who struggles against his own soul in Allaah's obedience." [Tirmidhee who said it was Hasan Saheeh and Al-Albaanee said: 'Its isnaad is good']

And when a person is not able to struggle against his own soul and overcome it in that which Allaah loves, he will not be able to fight against the external enemy, nor overcome it. How can he, when he is defeated and weak, both mentally and spiritually, and cannot even gain control of his own feeble soul?

Before entering into the discussion of how to fight against the soul it is necessary to mention a little section about the soul and its nature. Then we shall mention the cure for the soul and the way to purify it from its desires and lusts, if Allaah wills.

The Reality of the Soul

The soul continuously calls its owner to transgression, preference of the world, the desires and love of the delights and pleasures. But Allaah calls His servant to fear of Him, awe of Him and forbids the soul from its whim. He has prepared a mighty reward for the one who follows His command. The Exalted said:

And as for the one fears the standing in front of His Lord and restrains the soul from impure evil desires and lusts, verily, Paradise will be his abode. [Soorah Naazi'aat 79:40-41]

The soul in its essence calls and commands the evil. Allaah the Exalted said:

Verily the (human) self is inclined to evil, except when my Lord bestows His Mercy (upon whomsoever He wills). Verily, my Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful. [Soorah Yoosuf 12:53]

The soul was originally created ignorant and given to transgression. Knowledge, guidance and righteousness are things that befall it due to inspiration from its Lord and then by the struggle against it by its owner and his nurturing it and engaging it in jihaad. Allaah the Exalted says:

And those who strive in Our way We shall guide them to our paths and verily Allaah is with the doers of good (muhsinoon). [Soorah Ankabut 29:69]

Allaah Azzawajall guaranteed the one whom He found trying and striving (against his soul) that He will be with him, will help him and will bring into reality his wish or desire (of domination over his soul). What then can a man desire after that?

And Ibn al-Qayyim (rh) said: "The travellers to Allaah, in all their different paths and diversity of their ways are agreed that the soul is a barrier between the heart and Allaah and that it (the heart) will not come close to Him, the Sublime, or arrive to Him except after killing his soul , abandoning it by opposing it and being victorious over it"

For this reason, it is obligatory upon us to fight and strive against it in order to travel (by this striving) in the straight path and to the clear success which Allaah Azzawajall has prescribed for us and which the best of the creation of Allaah, Muhammad (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) has explained to us.

Know that striving against the soul does not occur except by four ways. Whoever follows them and applies them to his soul will have fought against it and protected it with the help of Allaah. Ibn al-Qayyim (rh) has mentioned these ways and they are as follows:

Firstly: By holding the soul to account
Secondly: By opposing it and not following its whims and desires
Thirdly: By making it patient in Allaah's obedience
Fourthly: By making it patient in refraining Allaah's disobedience

The First Way: Holding the Soul to Account


The destruction of the soul and the heart and their corruption is due to the neglect of calling the soul to account. There are very few amongst Allaah's servants whom you will find calling their souls to account. One will ask it constantly: What did I intend with that word of mine, or that advice I gave, or when I called unto Allaah or when I commanded the good and forbade the evil (on a particular occasion)? Was that word which my tongue engaged upon and which my mouth uttered a word sincerely for Allaah? Did I desire the Face of Allaah with it? Or did I desire a portion of the world with it? What did I desire with that action, whether it was prayer, charity, fasting or putting and end to a certain evil? What did I hope for from it and what was the desire behind it? Did I hope for reward from Allaah for it and His pleasure, or was my hope for reward and praise from Allaah's creation, showing off and seeking to be heard of?

In such a way does he question his soul and hold it to account for every word, movement and moment of rest. What did I hope for from it? And what did I desire by it?

May Allaah show mercy to Al-Hasan al-Basree who said: "You will not find a believer except that he is (constantly) holding his soul to account. What did I intend with that word of mine? What did I intend with my food? What did I intend with my drink?"

Imaam Ahmad wrote: "The intelligent person is the one who controls his own soul (calls it to account) and acts (in preparation) for what comes after death...", and what is after death? After death is the barzakh. After death there is accountability and punishment. After death are the Scales (upon which the deeds are weighed) and the Siraat (the bridge over Hellfire) and then it is either Paradise or Hellfire. So what have we prepared for what comes after death?! "...and the incapable person is the one who makes his soul follow its whim and has many expectations from Allaah."

Such a person is the one who says 'Allaah will forgive me, Allaah will show mercy upon me', he covets all these things from Allaah and yet he does not perform the righteous actions and falls into many sins and acts of disobedience. Righteous actions are one of the means of entering Paradise. It is not sufficient for someone to have expectations (from Allaah) without making some effort and sacrifice and striving with his soul to perform righteous actions. Allaah Azzawajall frequently links eemaan with righteous actions and it is also one of the ways of entering into Paradise. We ask Allaah to grant us His Gardens.

Umar ibn al-Khattaab said: "Call your souls to account before you are called to account and weigh your souls (i.e. your actions) before you are weighed for it will make the accountability easier for you tomorrow if you call your selves to account today" [Reported by Ahmad in his Musnad]

Maalik ibn Deenaar (rh) said:"May Allaah show mercy to a servant who said :'Are you not the perpetrator of this action? Are you not the perpetrator of that action? Then he rebukes it, strikes it and confines it to the Book of Allaah and is becomes its master and guide.'"

How many souls are their who control and lead their owners into the darkness and then into destruction and refuge is sought from Allaah! Let a person therefore, be the leader, the commander and the forbidder of his soul and not the soul of him.

And Al-Hasan (rh) said: "A believer is a guardian over his soul. He calls his soul to account for the sake of Allaah. The reckoning on the Day of Judgement will be light upon a people who call themselves to account in the world and the reckoning on the Day of Judgement will be hard on a people who take this matter lightly."

And Ibn Katheer (rh) said: "The believer (constantly) returns to his soul (holding it to account) so he says: 'What did I intend by this action?! What is for me and what is for it?! By Allaah I shall never return to it.' If it is an act of disobedience for example, it is a way of guarding his soul. He asks it constantly and calls it to account with an intense and hard reckoning in this world so that the reckoning on the Day of Judgement is easy."

How Do I Call Myself to Account?

Holding oneself to account is of two types: One before the action and the other after the action.

The First Type: It is necessary for the one who calls himself to account before he engages upon saying something particular or a particular action or any action for that matter, that he stops and looks with clear insight, not with his whim or desire, at this action. Is this action in itself good for him, will he acquire recompense and reward for it from Allaah? Or is this action disobedience which will lead to earning evil and increasing ones burdens?

If he sees that this action is good and there is benefit in it for his religion, his life and the Hereafter he then moves onto another matter.

And this is to see whether Allaah's Face, His pleasure and the home of the Hereafter is desired by this action or is it merely for showing off, fame and seeking to be heard of? If he had desired Allaah's Face by it then he should proceed with this action, whilst relying upon Allaah and seeking help from Him.

When he has finished from his action it is still necessary for him to call himself to account after he has acted. This enables him to see whether he made it sincerely and purely for Allaah or whether he was deceived (into thinking that it was) and satisfied with just merely performing the action, perhaps due to the praise of people. Then he forgets his initial desire and intention which was seeking the Face of Allaah. Was it better for him to perform that action or to fall short in executing it and abandoning it?

For this reason we find that the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) has strongly encouraged us to be quiet if we do not find any good and useful words to speak. He said: "Whoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day let him speak good or remain silent." [Reported by Bukhaaree and Muslim] Imaan an-Nawawi said: "When a person desires to speak, if there is definite goodness in his words for which he will be rewarded then let him speak and if it does not appear to him that there will be good in his words and that he will be rewarded then he should refrain from speaking."

When a servant is strict and hard upon himself in such a way he will travel upon the path of goodness and success as a result of it. However, if he abandons his soul and neglects it he will be lead to the path of destruction and ruin by it, and into committing sins very easily without having the desire to seek forgiveness and repent from them.

The Second Type: Calling the soul to account after the action has been completed. This itself is of three types:

The first: A person brings the soul to account for an act of obedience which was performed and which fell short in fulfilling Allaah?s right. This means that it was not performed in the best possible way. The right of Allaah upon the servant in every act of obedience consists of six matters:

Sincerity in the action (for the sake of Allaah alone) ,
Pure devotion to Allaah in it,
Following and imitating the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) in it,
Seeing and observing excellence in it
Seeing Allaah?s Benevolence in it
Seeing one?s shortcomings (in performing this action) after all of this.
So a person will call himself to account. Has he considered all these things with care and attention, the way they ought to be? And did he fulfil them all in this action?

The second: A person calls himself to account for every action that he did, the abandonment of which would have been better for him than actually doing it.

The third: A person calls himself to account for a matter that is mubaah (permissible - with no reward or punishment resulting from it). Why did he do it? And did he desire the Face of Allaah and the home of the Hereafter by it so that he will have profited and succeeded? Or did he desire by it, the world and its temporary rewards and delights as a result of which he loses that success

A person will call himself to account so that one day when he is sixty years old he will be counting his days and will find that they are twenty-one thousand and six-hundred in number. He lets out a scream and says: "Woe be to me, I will meet my Lord with twenty-one thousand sins. How will it be when there are thousands of sins in a day?!" Then he falls to the ground unconscious, and dies.

Let us therefore, look at the strictness and intensity of the way he called himself to account and the way in which he saw his sins to be against him. What then, will our condition be?!

One amongst the Salaf would choose a certain time, late at night, to call his soul to account. He would ask himself about the obligatory duties first and if he found any deficiency in them, he would complete them, either by fulfilling them or by making up for them.

Then he would call his soul to account with respect to the forbidden matters since he did something which the Sharee'ah has forbidden or which the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam) warned against. So he would make up for it by seeking forgiveness from Allaah and then being remorseful and repenting from it.

Then he would hold his soul to account for its heedlessness. If he had been heedless of what he had been created for he would make up for it with the remembrance of Allaah, directing his attention towards Him and performing His worship. If he had been heedless with respect to a certain sin and went on to commit it, he would return to Allaah, seeking forgiveness from Him, repenting to Him.

He then goes on to call himself to account about what he said and uttered on a certain day, or to what his feet walked towards or what his hands grasped or what his eyes saw or what his ears heard and so on. He would therefore, see whether his action was in agreement with what Allaah is pleased with and whether he desired Allaah with his action and made it sincerely and purely for Him. Or did a blemish or impurity mix with his action such as showing off or seeking to be heard of, or opposing the command of Allaah (in the way that he performed his action).

Therefore, he throws against every one of his actions or his words two questions: For whom did I do it?! Was it for Allaah or other than Him? This a question about sincerity to Allaah. The other question: How did I do it?! Was it in agreement with the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah? Was it in agreement with the Sharee'ah or did it oppose and contradict the Sharee'ah (this is a question about following and imitating the way of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alaihi wasallam)).

There are Great Benefits in Calling the Soul to Account

Amongst them are:

1. Realising the shortcomings and weaknesses of the soul. Whoever does not know the weaknesses of his soul will not be able to put an end to them.

We can observe this quality in our Pious Predecessors. Due to the intensity with which they called their souls to account, they knew all their shortcomings and faults. Yoonus bin Ubaid said: "Indeed, I know of a hundred characteristics from among the characteristics of goodness and I do not know whether I possess a single one of them." Therefore, we find him to be the most knowledgeable of people of his own self. He knows what his soul is in need of and what it hopes for and other such matters.

And Muhammad bin Waasi' said: "If sins were to produce a smell, no one would be able to sit next to me"

2. Knowing the right of Allaah upon oneself. This will instill in the servant hatred of his own soul and its contempt. It will purify him from being amazed with his actions and also from showing off. Ibn al-Qayyim said: "Verily, hatred of the soul for the sake of Allaah is one of the characteristics of the Siddeeqoon (the truthful and the sincere)."

Imaam Ahmad has mentioned in his book az-Zuhd that Wahb (ibn Munabbah) said: "It has reached me that the Prophet of Allaah, Moosa, passed by a man who was calling upon Allaah and was humbling himself. He (Moosa) said: O my Lord, show mercy to Him as I have shown mercy to Him. Then Allaah inspired to him: If he calls upon me until his...... I would not respond to Him until He looks at My right over Him."

Looking at the right of Allaah opens the door towards submission, humility and defeat in front of Allaah. The one who reflects about the condition of the people nowadays will find that most of them do the opposite of this. They look at their own rights upon Allaah, at their needs from Him but do not look at the right of Allaah upon themselves.

We will find one of them when he is inflicted with a calamity or misfortune on account of what his own hands have committed, angry, irritated and grumbling. He does not even ask his ownself: What is the cause of this misfortune, this calamity? And he is not aware that it is due to his sins and his disobedience to Allaah.

Likewise we find that many amongst mankind have been cut off from Allaah and their hearts have been veiled from knowing Him. To Allaah then, is the complaint and there is no power nor movement except by Allaah.

The Second Way: To be continued Inshallaah

Taken from www.SalafiPublications.com

This message was edited by abu.aisha on 2-2-03 @ 12:28 PM


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