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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
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FIGHTING THE EGO
We all live surrounded by enemies that we have to fight against in our daily lives. The enemies are numberless; some of them can we see, while others are invisible. The invisible ones are the most dangerous, and the hardest ones to defeat. We need to be awake and careful to have a chance against them. A more dangerous enemy than our own ego does not exist. The ego wants us to do the wrong actions that we should keep on a long distance. The person that obeys his ego will be a looser, while the person who fight his ego with settled limits and who guides himself to reach the way defined for the believing ones, will surely succeed. The Prophet (SAWS) said: «Shall I tell you who the believing one is? He is the one that people feel they can trust so much that they want him as a guard for their money, families or themselves. A Muslim is a person that people trust and feel safe dealing with. He is the one who struggle (Modjahid) to combat his ego, to obey Allah (SWT), and the emigrant that emigrates from his mistakes and sins». Al – Hakim To strive to defeat our ego is the best and the only complete fight to take for gaining control over ourselves. Allah (SWT) says: But as for him who feared standing before his Lord, and restrained himself from impure evil desires and lusts. (Quran 79:40) The war against the ego can be defined in four different types: 1: To force yourself to learn about the religion 2: To practice what you have learned 3: To educate the people that doesn’t know 4: To gather people to the One True God Allah (SWT) describes the importance of fighting the ego in the Quran: As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our paths (i.e. Allah’s religion – Islamic monotheism). And verily, Allah is with the Muhsinun (good-doers). (Quran 29:69) This verse shows us in clear text the power that lays in self-control, and how big the reward is for the ones who manage to defeat their ego. Allah (SWT) guides the ones who own this kind of self-control, to goodness and success in this world and in the Hereafter. Al-Qurtubi explains it in this way: «The fight (Jihad) is not a fight only meant against the non-believers, but it is the victory in the faith (imaan), to answer the ones that do forbidden actions, oppression of the oppressors, to ordain that what is right and forbid what is wrong. Amongst these people are the ones who combat their egos, so that they can obey Allah (SWT) » …We will surely guide them to Our paths: This means that Allah’s guidance is kept for them who have pure intensions, love, who prays, and do other good deeds. They will be guided to the true faith and to Paradise (Jennah). Allah (SWT) says: And remember the Name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with a complete devotion. Quran 73:8 So, whoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it. Quran 99:7 And whatever you spend in good, surely, Allah knows it well. Quran 2:273 The importance of fighting the ego described in the Sunnah: Abu Hurayra (RAA) told that the Prophet (SAWS) said: «Allah the Most High said: “The one who makes My friend to become my enemy, will I declare war against. My slave cannot seek to come closer to Me with something more dear to Me than what I have laid on him as duties. My slave will continue to come closer to Me through voluntary good deeds, to the point when I start to love him. And when I love him, I will be the hearing that he hears with, the sight that he sees with, the hand that he grabs with, and the feet that he walks with. And if he asks Me something, I will give it to him. And if he seeks My protection, then I will give him My protection.” » (Bukhari) Ibn Abbas (RAA) told that the Prophet (SAWS) said: «There are two good deeds (Niaam) that not many people have got: Good health and
spare-time.
» (Bukhari) Abu Hurayra (RAA) told that the Prophet (SAWS) said: «Believers strong in faith are better and more loving to Allah than the believers weak in faith. And in everything there is some good, watch after what is good for you, and do not become lazy. Seek help from Allah, and do not feel helpless. If something happens to you, do not say: If I had done this or that, but say: This is the will of Allah, He does what He wants. The word “IF” opens up for the devil. » (Muslim) It is also told that the Prophet (SAWS) said: The road to Hell is closed with desire while the road to Paradise is closed with difficulties. (Agreed upon)
with good deeds. (Al-Tirmidhi) Fadhala Bin Obaid (RAA) told that he heard the Prophet (SAWS) say: A Mujahid is a person who fights against himself to gain self-control for
the
cause of Allah. (Ahmad) Some scholars’ evaluations Aljunied told: «I heard Alserri say: “O, you young people. Strive and work hard before you reach the time when you will have my condition. Because then you will feel upon yourself what I feel upon myself today. That everything fails and weakens.” » Ibn al Mubarak said: «The just people do good deeds with a big will and are ahead of those of us that do everything unwilling. »
Ali (RAA) said: «By Allah, I saw the companions of Muhammed (saws) got awake dusty and tired after a night with prayers and Quran-recitation. They were well marked both in their foreheads and feet. » Abu Dardaa (RAA) said: «If it had not been for these three things, I would prefer death; the thirst while I fast, praying in the night-time, and my choice to be among people who choose their words when they speak, like others choose the good and mature fruit to eat.» A Mujahid’s weapon The Muslims who strive and lead a war against their own egos, is in need of a weapon. The best weapon is patience. The patient one while fighting his ego will have success in staying away from desires and the devil’s whisperings. He will be like “his own king”, in full control over himself. The person who does not try to defeat his ego and desires, will be owned and lead to the big fall. He will be like a slave lead by his desires, and in the end, he will be one of the losers.
we are fully capable of fighting our egos. Ameen
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