Faṣl fī Tazkiyat al-Nafs - Ibn Taimiya - (34)

and engage in combat for the sake of Allah, whether he is killed or prevails, Allah will grant him a tremendous reward. (Whereas when the soul is defeated, its possessor is blameworthy and censured.) (1) For this reason the Prophet—may blessings and peace be upon him—said in an authentic narration: “The strong man is not the one who wrestles others down; rather, the strong man is he who controls himself when angry.” (2) Likewise, it is firmly established that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said:

“The true mujahid is the one who strives against his own soul for Allah’s sake.” (1)

(So when the soul yearns for what is forbidden and invites to it, one is commanded to forbid it and wage jihad against it) (2) just as he is commanded to wage jihad against people who command disobedience to Allah and call to it. Yet he is more in need of striving against his own soul than of that external jihad, for the former is an individual duty upon him, whereas the latter is a collective duty. Perseverance in this inner jihad is among the finest of deeds, for this jihad is in reality the essence of that outward jihad; thus patience in it is patience in that jihad.

The Prophet also said:

“The emigrant is the one who abandons sins.” (3)

(Whoever abandons what Allah has forbidden and then strives against the soul) (4) will not be praised for it unless he prevails over it, unlike (jihad against the unbelievers) (5), for it is from

(1) Reported by Ahmad, 39/375; al-Tirmidhi, no. 1621; and al-Nasaʾi in al-Kubra, no. 11794, among others, on the authority of Fadala b. Ubayd (may Allah be pleased with him). Al-Tirmidhi graded it hasan sahih; al-Albani declared it sahih in al-Sahihah, no. 549. (2) Omitted in the printed edition. (3) Reported by al-Bukhari, no. 10, Book of Faith, chapter “A Muslim is he from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe”; Ahmad, no. 1671; and Ibn Hibban, no. 196 (whose wording is followed here), on the authority of Abd Allah b. Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both). (4) Omitted in the printed edition. (5) Omitted in the printed edition.

وقد ثبت عن النبي صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أنه قال: «المجاهد من جاهد نفسه في ذات الله» (١) . (فإذا كانت النفس تهوي المحرم وتدعوا إليه أُمر بنهيها ومجاهدتها) (٢) كما يؤمر بجهاد من يأمر بمعاصي الله من الناس ويدعو إليها وهو إلى جهاد نفسه أحوج منه إلى ذلك، فإن هذا فرض عين عليه وذلك فرض على الكفاية، والصبر في هذا الجهاد من أفضل الأعمال فإن هذا الجهاد حقيقة ذلك الجهاد، فالصبر عليه صبر على ذلك الجهاد. كما قال: «والمهاجر من هجر السيئات» (٣) . (ومن هجر ما نهى الله عنه ثم جاهد النفس) (٤) لا يكون محموداً فيه إلا إذا غلب بخلاف (جهاد الكفار) (٥) فإنه من

(١) رواه أحمد (٣٩/ ٣٧٥) والترمذي (١٦٢١) والنسائي في الكبرى (١١٧٩٤) وغيرهم من حديث فضالة بن عبيد رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ. وقال الترمذي: حديث حسن صحيح. وصححه الألباني في الصحيحة (٥٤٩). (٢) سقط من المطبوع. (٣) رواه البخاري (١٠) كتاب الإيمان باب المسلم من سلم المسلمون من لسانه ويده، وأحمد (١٦٧١)، وابن حبان (١٩٦) واللفظ له، من حديث عبد الله بن عمرو رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا. (٤) سقط من المطبوع. (٥) سقط من المطبوع.