Self-Struggle
Self is our biggest and most
staunch enemy who is permanently and continuously at war with reason; by
listening to Satanic whispers he attacks the reason together with his soldiers
to get it isolated and ultimately silenced, so that he becomes the
sole-contender in the battle-field. His single goal is to force out God's
favorite angels from the heart's kingdom and helping Satan to take over his
absolute control. Naturally, defeating such a treacherous enemy is not on easy
task, but requires determination, resistance, perseverance, and even crusade -a
crusade not only for once or twice, for a few days and few years but continuous
one till the last breath of life, which is a hard, difficult, and serious
struggle.
In order to defeat the self and
to control passions we must fight hard by strictly following the commands of
Prophet (SAWW) and Infallible Imams; with the help of reason must march
forward preventing transgressions and encroachment of the self, and destroying
the roots of his forces, so that reason could take over the power, and by
taking inspirations from religious law could guide us upon the path of human
perfection leading towards God's-Nearness.
We must know while confronting
self, compromise and piece settlement is not possible, and what is required is
a devastating blow making him crippled permanently from plotting any further
conspiracies. In order to achieve happiness and salvation there is no other
alternative except to follow this course, and because, of this reason struggle
against the self has been called in traditions as -"Greater-Crusade"
(Jihad-e-Akbar). Here we would quote few examples from the Commander of
the Faithful Hazrat' Ali (R.A):
"Take over the possession of yourself--through
continuous struggle.”
”Fight and dominate over
self’s whims and passions. Because otherwise if they succeeded in making you
their prisoner -they will treat you in a most humiliating manner destroying you
eventually.
And said:
"Be aware! That Paradise
is purchased through self-struggle. Therefore, who is engaged in self -struggle
will be victorious. Paradise (or self) is the greatest reward for
some one who really appreciates their worth."
And said:
"By means of fighting against the self; incite
him
towards God's worshipping. Fight him the way one must fight with his
worst
enemy, and dominate over him like the domination of victor over his
opponent.
The most powerful person is the one who is victorious over his self
"
And said:
"A wise man keeps himself engaged in struggle
against his self, thus, reforming and preventing him from indulging into
passions and amusements, and in this manner subdues him ultimately taking over
his possession. Such a wise person is so must preoccupied in his
self-refinement that he is totally detached with the world, whatever it
contains and its dwellers."
Struggle against the self is the
most crucial warfare which ultimately determines our destiny -a warfare upon
which depends our ‘how to live’ in this world and the Hereafter. If, we do not
dominate the self through struggle and take over the ruling authority in our
own hands, he will take over the control of our possessions by pulling us in
every direction at his will. If, we failed to make him our prisoner, he will
certainly take us into his imprisonment as his slaves; if we could not succeed
in inciting him for doing good moral virtuous deeds, he will force us to
indulge into most shameful evil deeds. Therefore, it must be said that the
struggle against the self is one of the most important and difficult duty which
has been assigned upon the shoulders of the wayfarers journeying towards God,
and whatever energy is spent by them in this struggle deserves merit and is
energy well spent.
7.1. Greater Struggle (Jihad-e-Akbar)
The struggle against the self is
so important that the Prophet (SAWW) has described it as the
"Greater-Struggle" (Jihad-e-Akbar); It is so crucial that it
has been described, even greater than the armed conflict. The Commander of the
Faithful Hazrat 'Ali (R.A). had narrated:
"That the Prophet (S) dispatched his soldiers to
battle front to fight against the enemy. When the soldiers returned triumphant,
the Prophet said: ' Congratulations! For those who have successfully completed
the "Minor-Struggle " (Jihad-e-Asghar), but they have yet to engage
themselves into Greater-Struggle (Jihad-e-Akbar) '. He was asked: 'Oh Prophet
of God! What is the Greater- Struggle?”
'Struggle against the self.’ Replied the Prophet (S).”
The Commander of the Islam Hazrat
Imam 'Ali (R.A) said:
"The best crusade is the, struggle of some one, who
fights' against his self located between his two sides."
In his death will the Prophet
(SAWW) said to Hazrat 'Ali (R.A):
“Oh Ali! The best struggle is the struggle of some one
who made his night into morning without thinking to oppress a single
individual.”
In these traditions the
importance of struggle against the self have been described as
"Greater-Struggle" or Supreme Crusade -the crusade which is even
superior than the crusade for the sake of God-Almighty (Jihad fi Sabil illah).
Considering the exalted position of crusade for the sake of God, which is
considered as one of the most superior worshipping -the importance and worth of
self-struggle becomes explicitly clear. In order to further explain its
superiority in detail we may point out the following three reasons:
A. First Reason
Each act of worship even armed
struggle required self-struggle from the following two considerations.
(i) Firstly: The performance of
each act of worship with perfection and in accordance with certain requirements
itself requires self-struggle.
For example:
Is the performance of daily
prayer with presence of mind as well as meeting all other conditions, so
that it indeed becomes -a believers heavenly journey preventing him from
fortifications and forbidden deeds -possible without efforts and self-struggle?
Is fasting with perfection
satisfying all its requirements so that it becomes -a shield against Hell's
fire -possible without self-struggle? Is it possible for a valiant, crusader
eager for martyrdom, to appear on the battle field to fight bravely with the
enemies of Islam without self-struggle? And similar is applicable to all other
worships.
(ii) Secondly: Every act of
worship is accepted by God-Almighty and becomes a means of attaining His
Nearness, subjected to its being performed solely for the sake of His Pleasure,
being purified from ,all traces of polytheism, self-deceit and other selfish
passions, and performance of such acts without self-struggle are not possible.
Even the armed struggle and martyrdom are worthy of merit and become means of
attaining God's Nearness -only if they are performed purely for the sake of
God’s Pleasure and declaration of slogan of Monotheism (Towheed).
But, if this superior worship
was performed with the intention of achieving fame and glory: .taking revenge
from the enemy, for the sake of lasting the name in history, for showing off
and deceit, for achieving wealth and position, running away from facing life's
difficulties, and other desires of the self -then in that case they lack any
spiritual distinction and do not become means of attaining God's Nearness.
Therefore, self-struggle is superior then all worships and virtuous deeds, even
armed struggle undertaken for the sake of God-Almighty, because, it is a
prerequisite for their genuine dischargement with perfection. It is because of
these considerations that this has been called as the -Greater-Struggle (Jihad-e-Akbar).
B. Second Reason
Armed struggle becomes
compulsory only under certain special times and circumstances, further it is
not incumbent upon everyone (Wajib-e-aini), rather is a collective
obligation (Wajib-e-kifai), and some people are free from this
obligation. During certain periods armed struggle is not required at all, or is
required to the extent of collective obligation, e.g. if required number of
people had assumed this obligation, then the others are excused. Apart from
this it is not incumbent upon women, elderly men, handicapped, and sick people.
But on the contrary, struggle against the self is incumbent upon everyone as an
individual obligation (Wajib-e-aini) during all times, circumstances,
and situations, must be continued till the very last moments of life, and no
body under any condition except the impeccable will ever
be free this requirement.
C. Third Reason
The struggle with self is harder
than all the worships even the armed struggle in which a combatant risks his
life by accepting martyrdom. Because, absolute surrender before God-Almighty,
self-struggle against self's whims and passions for the entire life, and
journeying towards the straight path of perfection is much more difficult than
the fighting of a valiant warrior with the enemy in the battle field for a
moment and ultimately achieving martyrdom. In fact, self-struggle is so hard
that except with continuous resistance, tolerance of pains and anguishes, and
without God's Assistance it is not possible. It is because of this reason that
we recite five times every day in daily prayers the sentence:
"Show us the straight path”
To follow up the straight path
of perfection is so difficult that the Prophet of Islam (SAWW) said to
God-Almighty:
"Oh God! Don't leave me
at the disposal of myself even for the fraction of a second."
Struggle and Divine Assistance
True, that self-struggle is
extremely difficult, requires resistance, perseverance, and intelligence, but
any how it is possible and is something absolutely necessary for human
happiness. Therefore, if one decides seriously to begin it, he will certainly
receive Divine Assistance and will succeed in his efforts.
As God-Almighty has promised in the Quran:
"And those who strive in our cause -we will
certainly guide them to our paths. For verily God is with those who do right.”
-the
Holy Quran (29:69)
Imam al-Sadiq (R.A) said:
"How good is a servant
of God who struggles against the self and his passions for the sake of God's
Pleasure. Whoever becomes victorious over the self’s whims and passions has
already achieved God's-Pleasure. Whoever offers resistance, and with humility
in front of God, allows the reason to control imperious-self would receive the
greatest blessing.”
"There exists between the servants of God and Him
nothing darker and horrible barrier than the imperious-self and his passions,
and in order to destroy their roots forever, the realization to seek God,
humility, hunger, thirst during the day (i. e. fasting), and night awakening
(i.e. engaging in night prayers and having humming communications with God-Almighty).
Such a person if dies in this course has left the world as a martyr, and if
remains alive would ultimately attain the exalted position of God's Nearness.
God-Almighty has promised in the Holy Quran that those who strive in His cause
will certainly be guided towards His path and verily, God is with those who do
right.”
"When you encounter another struggler endeavoring in
self-refinement better than your own efforts, then reprimand your self
severely, and , remind him to be more careful and determined. In accordance
with Divine do's and don'ts make a bridle for the self and like a master,
training his inexperienced and wanton slave, encourage your self towards
virtuous deeds. The Prophet (S) offered so much prayer that his feet become
swelled, in response to people' s complaint, replied: should not I be thankful
to God-Almighty ?”
"By these serious endeavors in worship the prophet
(S) wanted to teach a lesson to his community. Therefore, one should never be
negligent from endeavors, worship, and ascestism. Know that! if you could
witness the sweetness of worshipping and other blessings and if your heart
becomes illuminated with Divine Light -you will not be ready to discontinue if
for an hour, even if they cut off your body into several pieces. Therefore, the
negligence from worshipping shall never be possible except being deprived from
advantages of competing for achieving immunity against sins and attaining God's
-Blessings."
-Bihar
al-Anwar, vol. 70, p-69.
Self struggle is exactly like
the armed struggle. Each blow inflicted upon the enemy, and every stronghold
captured by means of soldiers make the enemy weaker in the same proportion,
thus, making the, forces psychologically stronger and better prepared for
subsequent assaults and later victories. It is in accordance of this Divine
Tradition that we are told in the Holy Quran:
"Oh ye who believe! If you help God's cause, He will
make your foothold firm.”
-the
Holy Quran (47:7)
The same is true with self-struggle. Each blow inflicted
upon imperious-self and his whims and passions being opposed, makes him weaker
in the same proportion and, thus, making us stronger and better prepared for
subsequent assaults and later victories. But opposite to that any amount of
irresolution shown and surrender to self's whims and passions make us weaker
and making him stronger and better equipped for later assaults. If we could
take the first giant step towards self-refinement, then with Divine Assistance
will be able to achieve absolute domination over the self, but if we ran away
from the battle field against the passions and self's soldiers, then they will
become more stronger and ultimately take over our absolute control.
Man -His own Physician
It is true that Prophets and
Infallible Imams are the teachers and physicians of human souls, but the
responsibility for treatment, refinement, and purification of their souls have
been assigned upon their own shoulders. Although, the Prophets and Infallible
Imams have lectured and explained to human beings in details about their
psychic diseases and symptoms, issued relevant prescriptions for their
treatments, so that they could become familiar with their pains and treatments,
and could assume the responsibility of their own self reforms.
Because, nobody could diagnose
the disease and take the necessary action for its treatment, better than the
man himself. Man listens about the psychic disease and their treatments either
from the tongue of a preacher, or learns through reading a book, but the one
who must discover the disease with in his own-self, and should use a
particular medicine for its treatment -is no body except man himself. A man
could feel about his own pains, and is knowledgeable about the hidden mysteries
within, far better than anyone else. Therefore, if he himself is not careful in
controlling his own-self, then of course, the preaching and warning issued by
others would not produce any useful outcome.
Islam believes that reforms must
begin from the inner existence of human beings, they must be prepared for
undertaking self-refinement, should pay attention to psychological hygiene, and
should be assigned the responsibility to guard their own souls. This in itself
could be considered as one of the important principle of Islamic training. The
God-Almighty, said in the Holy Quran:
"Oh, but man is telling witness against himself,
although he tender his excuses.”
-the
Holy Quran (75:14-15)
Imam al-Sadiq (R.A) said:
"You have been appointed physicians of your own self
pains, prescriptions, and symptoms of sound health all have been explained for
you; now let us see, how are you going to act for the treatment of your self?”
"Whoever does not have a
preacher within his own-self, preaching by others, will not be of any use for
him."
“Oh son of Adam! So for as you have a preacher inside
your self -you are bound to do good deeds."
"The most helpless person is the one-- who is
helpless in reforming his self."
"It is desirable that a man should assume the
responsibility of supervision over his own-self He should continuously watch
out his heart and control his tongue."
