The Most Difficult Struggle in Life A Man Can Endure
The Most Difficult Struggle in Life A Man Can Endure
The Most Difficult Struggle in Life A Man Can Endure
ُ أﻓ ْﻀ َﻞ ُ اﻟﺠ ِﻬ َﺎد ِ أنْ ﻳُﺠﺎﻫ ِﺪ َ اﻟﺮ َّﺟ ُﻞ ُ ﻧَﻔْﺴ َﻪُ وَﻫَﻮاه
Allah said: And who is more astray than one who follows
his own lusts, without guidance from Allah? [ Al-
Qasas:50]
The are four levels for the man battling against his
soul. The first is he struggles with his inner-being to
learn the proper guidance and the correct path of Islam.
This is the only way in which the soul can be
successful, feel happy in its life and well-being.
Otherwise, when this is lost then the soul will be
miserable in this life and in the next. The second
struggle the man faces against his soul, is acting by
the knowledge he acquires. If he doesn’t act on what he
knows then his knowledge is of no benefit and will serve
to harm him. The third encounter the man faces with his
soul is when he invites ignorant people to Islam. If he
doesn’t do this then he will fall in the category of
people that Allah said about, “Verily ,those who conceal
the clear proofs and guidance which we have sent
down..”[Al-Baqarah-159].
These are the four levels that a man will struggle with soul
in and when he completes all of these levels then he will be
among the true upright callers and nurturers of Islam. In
fact, the Salaf are all in agreement that a person can not be
called a Rabbani, until he knows the truth, acts by it, and
teaches it. [2]
Malik ibn Deenar said: “Fight against your evil desires
the same way you fight against you enemies.”[3]
Allah tests the servant with his soul and desires, and
has made it an obligation on him to fight against his
temptations and his evil desires; seeking Allah’s
Pleasure. Therefore, day and night the servant is
battling his soul until it’s thankful as Allah has
ordered it to be. Along with this, Allah’s servant goes
to war with his base desires controlling them from doing
what He has prohibited. This is an act of obedience. [6]