SECTION TWO CONTROLLING OF THE CARNAL DESIRES

The nafs of a person is his internal enemy and Shaytaan is his external enemy. The nafs encourages a person to fulfil his passions and carnal desires, whilst Shaytaan constantly suggests and introduces evil thoughts and ideas.
For this reason, a lot of emphasis has been placed in the Noble Quraan and Ahaadeeth for a person to control his nafs.

Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo states,

وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَى فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَى

As for the one who fears standing before his Sustainer and he restrains his nafs from fulfilling its desires, then Jannah is his abode.
(Naazi’aat verse 40)

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّاهَا وَقَدْ خَابَ مَن دَسَّاهَا

Successful is the one who has purified his nafs, and the one who neglects it is in great loss. (Shams verse 9-10)

In a hadeeth, Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam said,

أَعْدَى عَدُوِّكَ نَفْسُكَ الَّتِي بَيْنَ جَنْبَيْكَ  

Your worst enemy is your nafs which lies between your sides.

(Zuhdul Kabeer of Bayhaqi page 156 no. 343)

In Surah Baqarah, an incident is quoted. Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo commanded Ibraaheem Alayhis Salaam to take four birds, cut them into pieces, and place them in different places. According to one narration, the four birds were a peacock, a chicken, a pigeon and a crow. Scholars have written that there is an indication in this verse that one will not attain everlasting life without destroying the special characteristics of these birds found within one’s nafs.

To reach perfection, one must bring an end to these qualities. The peacock has love for beauty, the chicken has love of fulfilling sexual desires, the pigeon is heedless and has pride, and the crow has greed and distant hopes. This verse indicates that a person should remove these evil traits from himself. 

SINS ARE GENERALLY DUE TO THE NAFS

Abu Jahl knew that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam was the true and final Nabi. His nafs prevented him from following Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam. Abu Taalib was fully aware of the truthfulness of Islam.

At the time of his demise when Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam presented Islam to him, he said,”I fear that people will say, ‘He accepted Islam due to fear of death.’”

Abdullah ibn Ubay ibn Salool remained a hypocrite, always attempting to cause harm to the Muslims. The reason being, he was about to be crowned the king of Madinah when Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam arrived. He therefore was denied this opportunity. This led him to become envious of Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam, and created enmity in his heart. Despite knowing the truth, he deviously continued to oppose the Muslims.

Shaytaan was led astray by his nafs. There was no other Shaytaan present to lead him astray.

In the month of Ramadhaan, the evil shayaateen are chained.
However, many still sin. This is due to them following their nafs.

CONCERN FOR REFORMATION 
OF ONE’S NAFS
 

Imaam Buseeri Rahimahullaah states in this section that the most dangerous enemy of man is his carnal desires (nafs). He relates that a man indulges in romance due to his lust and carnal desires. He also relates that his life was spent in sin for which he sincerely regrets and he asks for forgiveness from Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo.

On the other hand, he mentions that desires are important as they can be utilized to fall in love with Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam. He mentions that a pure love can be attained by the purification of oneself from lust and carnal desires.

This section encourages man to fall in love with Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam and  to seek forgiveness from Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo.

To be continued

مَوْلَاىَ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَداً  عَلىٰ حَبِيْبِكَ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ