Struggling Against the Self

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أَعْجَبَ الأَشْيَاءِ مُجَاهَدَةَ النَّفْسِ

The most amazing thing is the struggle against the self.

فَإِنَّ النَّفْسَ أَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ تَمِيلُ إِلَى الشَّهَوَاتِ وَتَأْنَفُ مِنَ التَّكَالِيفِ وَتَفِرُّ مِنَ المَشَاقِّ

For the self is inclined to evil, leans towards desires, resents obligations, and flees from hardships.

فَ مُجَاهَدَتُهَا أَشَقُّ مِنْ مُجَاهَدَةِ العَدُوِّ الظَّاهِرِ لِأَنَّ العَدُوَّ الظَّاهِرَ يُمْكِنُ الفِرَارُ مِنْهُ أَوْ قَهْرُهُ وَأَمَّا النَّفْسُ فَمُلَازِمَةٌ لِلْإِنْسَانِ لَا تُفَارِقُهُ

So struggling against it is harder than struggling against a visible enemy; for a visible enemy can be escaped or conquered, but the self is ever-present with the person and does not leave him.

وَهِيَ تَطْلُبُ مِنْهُ فِي كُلِّ وَقْتٍ مَا تَهْوَاهُ وَتُزَيِّنُ لَهُ المَعَاصِي وَتُصَعِّبُ عَلَيْهِ الطَّاعَاتِ

It seeks from him at all times what it desires, embellishes sins for him, and makes acts of worship difficult for him.

فَ مَنْ أَرَادَ صَلَاحَ نَفْسِهِ فَلْيُجَاهِدْهَا جِهَادًا طَوِيلًا وَلْيَصْبِرْ عَلَى مُرَاغَمَتِهَا

So whoever wants to reform himself, let him strive against it with a long struggle, and be patient in opposing it.

وَلْيَعْلَمْ أَنَّ النَّصْرَ عَلَيْهَا هُوَ الفَوْزُ العَظِيمُ

And know that victory over it is the greatest success.

وَقَدْ قَالَ بَعْضُ العَارِفِينَ نَفْسُكَ الَّتِي بَيْنَ جَنْبَيْكَ هِيَ عَدُوُّكَ الأَكْبَرُ فَإِذَا غَلَبْتَهَا فَقَدْ غَلَبْتَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ

And some of the knowers have said: 'Your self, which is between your sides, is your greatest enemy, and if you conquer it, you have conquered everything.'

فَ اقْتَدِهْدْ فِي كِسْرِ شَهَوَاتِهَا وَحَمْلِهَا عَلَى مَا يُرْضِي رَبَّكَ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّ العَاقِبَةَ حَمِيدَةٌ

So strive to break its desires, compel it to what pleases your Lord, and be patient with that, for the outcome is praiseworthy.