2. DISCIPLINE OF THE SELF BY WISDOM AND RESOLUTE
Overcoming the desires of the ‘self (mujahidat-ul-nafs) is one of the amazing matters for it needs a unique method.
Some people allow their ‘self to indulge in all that it wants, so it makes them fall into what they dislike. Others have exaggerated in opposing their ‘self until they prevent it from its rights and are unjust towards it, compromising their worship accordingly.
Some have not fed it properly so their bodies become too weak to fulfil its obligations. Others have made the ‘self live in solitude (khalwa) until it becomes socially disoriented and causing it to miss out on obligations or virtues such as visiting a sick person, or being good to the neighbour or indeed one’s own mother.
A resolute person is he whose ‘self knows his high endeavours and his effort to preserve the principles; hence when he allows it to enjoy the lawful, it does not dare try stepping beyond the lines.
Such a person deals with his ‘self similar to a king who jokes with his soldiers without losing poise. This is also the case of the righteous who give their ‘selves’ its rights, and enable them perform necessary duties.
(Source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hatir)
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