A person in this worldly life lives in a state of ongoing struggle against visible and unseen enemies, and though some enemies are unseen, they may be more destructive than the visible ones. Therefore, one should always be alert and cautious. A person’s own self is the most hostile enemy that urges him to attain every possible desire and obtain every pleasure, even if it violates the commands of Allah and His Messenger .
When the slave of Allah indulges in his desires and surrenders to it, this would lead to his destruction. However, if he strives against his desires and makes his faith and piety take control over and hold back his desires, he would gain victory in one of the greatest battlefields of Jihaad. In this respect, the Messenger of Allah said: “Should I inform you of the [true] believer? It is he whom people trust over their wealth and lives, and the [true] Muslim is he who avoids harming Muslims with his tongue and hands, and the Mujaahid [holy warrior] is he who strives against his self and his desires in order to obey Allah, and the Muhaajir [emigrant] is the one who abandons all what Allah has forbidden.” [As-Silsilah As-Saheehah by Al-Albaani: 549]
Therefore, striving against one’s self is one of the best types of Jihaad. Ibn Battaal said, “Striving against one’s self is the most perfect type of Jihaad, as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination.} [Quran 79:40] This is achieved by preventing one’s self from committing acts of disobedience, avoiding doubtful matters and abandoning excessive enjoyment of lawful desires in order to enjoy them more in the Hereafter, as they would be abundant for him there.”
Degrees of Striving Against One’s Self
Some of the prominent scholars have said that there are four degrees of striving against one’s self:
Exercising self-resistance in order to learn the matters pertaining to religion.
Exercising self- resistance in order to act according to what he has learnt.
Exercising self- resistance in order to teach the ignorant what he has learned.
Calling others to testify that none is worthy of worship but Allah and fighting those who challenge His religion and deny His favors and bounties.
Ways of Self-Control
A Muslim needs assistance in order to protect himself against his desires and exercise self-control.
1- Perseverance: This is the most powerful weapon a Muslim can use to exercise self-control. A person who is determined to overcome his whims, desires and evil companions, will be able to control himself and gain his self-esteem, and thereby overcome and gain victory over them. On the other hand, a person who becomes vexed and impatient with exercising self-control will become defeated, captured and a slave to his evil-companion and desire. Ziyaad ibn Abi Ziyaad, a freed salve of Ibn ‘Ayyaash both, would challenge himself in the mosque and say, “What do you want? Where do you want to go? Is there a place better than this mosque you want to go to? Look at what is in it. Do you want to look at the house of so and so instead?” He would also say to himself, “You have no food other than this bread and oil, and no other clothes than these two garments, and no other wife but this old woman. Would you prefer to die?” Then he would say: “No, I shall have patience over this lifestyle.”
Also, when Maalik ibn Dinaar would wander in the market and when he saw something that he desired, he would say to himself, “Be patient. By Allah, I only prevent you due to your honorable position in my sight.” These are examples of some righteous people who exercised self-control by having patience and perseverance.
2- Adopting a self-critical attitude: Adopting a self-critical attitude is one of the means that would help a person in disciplining and controlling it. When a person realizes the true nature of himself, he would not incline or surrender to it; rather, he would criticize it. How could a person have good expectations of a bitter enemy who awaits the opportunity to suddenly attack him? Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And I do not acquit myself. Indeed, the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil, except those upon which my Lord has mercy.} [Quran 12:53] When Abu Bakr appointed ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, as his successor, he advised him, saying, “The first thing that I warn you against is yourself.”
3- Supplicating to Allah The Almighty, resorting to Him and seeking help through prayers: These are also from the greatest causes that assist self-control. It was narrated on the authority of Rabee‘ah Al-Aslami, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said, “I would spend the night with the Prophet . I would bring him water for his ablution and other things he needed. He once said to me: ‘Ask of me.’ I said, ‘I ask for your company is in Paradise.’ He said: ‘Is this the only thing you ask for?’ I said, ‘It is only this.’ He said: ‘Help me in this by yourself, by making prostration abundantly.’”
Exercising self-control is one of the greatest ways that bring about goodness. When Allah helps His slave succeed in such a matter, he will gain victory and such a benefit that he would never experience any loss afterwards. However, if he fails and is defeated, his loss would be great.
It was narrated in a Hadeeth that the Messenger said:
Satan puts obstacles in every way the son of ’Aadam takes to obey Allah: he put obstacles in his way to embracing Islam and said, ‘Will you embrace Islam and abandon your religion, the religion of your father and grandfather?’ Yet, he disobeyed him and embraced Islam. Then, he put obstacles in his way to performing Hijrah and said, ‘Will you emigrate and abandon your land and sky. The emigrant is like a horse that is leashed?’ Yet, he disobeyed him and emigrated. Then, he put obstacles in his way to performing Jihaad and said, ‘Will you perform Jihaad and sacrifice your life and wealth, then you will be killed, your wife will get married to another man and your wealth will be divided [amongst your heirs].’ Still, he disobeyed him and performed Jihaad.”
The Prophet added: “Allah made it a right over Himself to make anyone who does so to enter Paradise. If he drowns or is cast off his mount [while performing Jihaad], Allah would admit him to Paradise.”
Beloved readers, let us exercise self-control in learning the religion of Allah, acting accordingly, calling others to embrace it and undertaking Jihaad for its sake, in the hope of being among the attainers of success.