كَـمْ حَسَّــنَتْ لَـذَّةً لِلْمَرْءِ قَاتِلَةً      مِنْ حَيْثُ لَمْ يَدْرِ أَنَّ السُّمَّ فِيْ الدَّسَـمِ

21/9. How many pleasures are there (which) are considered enjoyable (but) are harmful for man because he does not know that poison is mixed in the rich food!

The poet encourages a person to keep an eye on the nafs when engaging in righteous actions. The reason being, many a times, something is extremely harmful for a person, but the nafs beautifies and embellishes it for a person. Just as a person has to save himself from sin, he has to protect himself from the harms which can arise by doing noble actions.

If poison is mixed in the rich food, there can be two outcomes:

1. Outwardly it seems tasty, but inwardly there is destruction.

2. Since the poison is mixed in the food, it is extremely difficult to detect it. A person needs an expert to help and assist him to save himself from these evils.

Allaah Jalla Jalaalahoo states,

قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِالْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَالًا الَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا  

Say, “Should I inform you of the one who are completely at loss with regards to actions. Those whose efforts have been wasted in the worldly life, whilst they think that they are doing good.”
(Kahf verse 103/104)

There are many such examples:

1. A person is doing a good action. His nafs tells him to publicize the action so that others can also do the same, whereas the intention is something completely different. Show is completely destructive for a person, but the nafs beautifies it for a person in such a manner that that person does not perceive the harm therein. 

2. The nafs tells a person, “It is my duty to teach girls. My object is to spread Deen.” Then, without observing any laws of hijaab, he teaches females. This eventually leads, in the name of Deen, to joking with them, flirting with them and a host of other evils.

3. A person feels, “I need to watch television so that I can refute those people,” “I need to watch a science film so that I can become a scientist,” “I need to watch TV to understand the evils of the time,” not realizing the other great harms and prohibitions in watching these films.

4. The nafs says, “Go and visit a certain lady since she is sick. She will become happy and will gain some consolation.”
However, the purpose is actually to talk to her and gain enjoyment.

5. A person feels that he needs to spend on a widow. He therefore buys groceries, and gives her money himself without the knowledge of his wife. If he wanted to do so, he could have given the necessities via his wife. 

It is for this reason that Rasulullaah SalAllaahu Alayhi Wasallam taught a Sahaabi this dua:

اللَّهُمَّ أَلْهِمْنِي رُشْدِي، وَأَعِذْنِي مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسِي

O Allaah! Guide me on the straight path, and protect me from the evil of my nafs.
(Tirmidhi no. 3438)

To be Continued In Sha Allaah

مَوْلَاىَ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَداً  عَلىٰ حَبِيْبِكَ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ