you have cooled his skin.” People also speak of “the coolness of certainty and the heat of doubt.” They say, “This brings cool relief to the heart,” when something is true and the heart recognizes it and rejoices in it, until it becomes as cool as snow. The soul’s illness consists of doubt, desire, or anger, and all three generate heat. Of someone who attains what he seeks, people say, “His heart has cooled,” for the seeker experiences the heat of seeking.

His words:

“Take from their wealth”

show that doing good deeds cleanses the soul and purifies it of past sins, for He said this after His words, “And others have acknowledged,” to the end of the verse. Repentance and righteous deeds thus bring about cleansing and purification. This is why, in the passage beginning, “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze,” and the subsequent verses, He said, “And turn to Allah in repentance,” to the end of the verse. He commanded them all to repent in connection with what He had mentioned, because no one is free of shortcomings of this kind. As recorded in the Sahīh:

“Allah has decreed for the son of Adam his share of unlawful sexual conduct,”

and the rest of the hadith.

It is likewise recorded in the Sahīh that His words:

“Indeed, good deeds do away with evil deeds”

were revealed on account of a man who had engaged in every form of intimacy with a woman except intercourse. He then felt remorse, whereupon the verse was revealed.

In this regard, a Muslim needs to fear Allah and restrain his soul from its desires. Mere inclination and desire are not punishable; rather, punishment is for following them and acting upon them. If his soul desires something and he restrains it, his restraint is an act of worship devoted to Allah and a righteous deed.

It is authentically reported that the Prophet said:

“The fighter in Allah’s cause is the one who struggles against his own soul for Allah’s sake.”

He is therefore commanded to struggle against his soul