How can we control our Nafs or temptations or desires?

How can we control our Nafs?

It is the inherent nature of the nafs to keep desiring for things. If we keep satisfying our permissible desires (beyond our rights and needs), the nafs will soon become tired of these desires and aspire to other desires which are doubtful until there comes a time when it will eventually desire haraam. We fall into the trap of leaving a desire only for the sake of a new desire. The result is that one’s life becomes a never-ending cycle of new desires and following one’s passions.

However, the only way to reach spiritual heights and gain closeness to Allah سبحانه وتعالى is to sacrifice even the permissible desires. One should sacrifice a desire only for the sake of Allah سبحانه وتعالى and not for the sake of the nafs in the form of a new desire. Only by sacrificing the permissible desires will the nafs remain under control. Either the nafs controls the person or the person controls the nafs.

[This short excerpt is based on a 

 entitled ‘Talk on the Nafs’ held by Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq on 7th March 2000].

Here are the some of the quotes about NAFS

Your nafs (soul/desires) is your first battlefield. If you are victorious over it, then you will find the other battlefields easier."

~ Hassan al-Banna

"Your worst enemy is hiding within yourself, and that enemy is your nafs or false ego."

~ Rumi

"Nothing kills the soul that commands to evil (Nafs al Ammarra) like seeing the beauty of the heart."

~ Shams Tabrizi

"If you wanted to be free and contented then
Keep you Nafs and lusts locked up.

"Control your nafs, before your nafs destroy you"

Allah has created human beings in 3 parts:

o One part is like an empty car shell, used to hold something, called the body.

o The other part is like the engine, without which the car will not function, called the conscience (nafs), and

o the third part is like the battery, without which the car will not run, this is the soul (ruh).

The soul also needs looking after, otherwise it, too, will become ill. The only way to look after the soul is to constantly strengthen our faith; and this is where our nafs comes in.

Three different states of nafs exist:

Nafs-e-Ammara: This is the nafs in its worst form, where it leads towards evil. When our nafs reaches this state, we are lower than animals in the eyes of Allah. At this stage, we incessantly and unrepentantly commit sins without a care for anyone else.

Nafs-e-Lawwama: This is the stage where we are not evil, but we still do wrong. It is at this stage that our nafs is referred to as the conscience; there is awareness in our actions because when we do something bad our nafs tells us that we should not have done it, and that we should repent.

Nafs-e-Mutmainna: This state is the goal of this life: total contentment with Allah. Not to commit any sins intentionally, and to take pleasure in performing good acts.

On the day of Ashura, Allah called to Imam Husain (AS): ‘O (thou) soul in (complete) rest and satisfaction! Come back to your Lord, well pleased (thyself) and well pleasing unto Him.’ Ayat 27-8 Sura 89

There are ways of protecting ourselves from the dark suggestions of the nafs:

o Reciting Bismillah every time before we do something. This way, we are asking Allah to protect us from ourselves as well as other dangers.

o Put some money towards sadaqa (for the poor). As a result, Allah will watch over us.

o Developing our willpower. This is the ability to control our desires. We are always exposed to dangers like drugs, alcohol, and pornography. If we were to give in to these temptations, we would ruin our lives.

When the Holy Prophet (SAW) was asked if he had a voice inside him telling him to do evil, he replied, ‘Yes I do! But I keep it locked up.’

The nafs was not tied up with metal chains, but with the restraints of willpower. This shows that willpower is a very powerful weapon against evil. We are able to control our nafs through discipline, which in turn, further strengthens our willpower.

Everything in this Universe has been created in pairs; each has its opposite. There is black and white, strong and weak, good and bad, heaven and hell. These pairs also exist within us. For every good emotion that takes us towards Allah, there is an evil emotion that wants to take us away from Him. Allah has given us the ability to judge between right and wrong. Furthermore, Allah has sent down a guide for every people, to show the way towards Him, so that on the Day of Judgment people cannot claim ignorance. All we have to do is choose which way we want to follow.

‘To every people (was sent) an Apostle: when their Apostle comes before them, the matter will be judged between them with justice, they will not be wronged.’ Suratul Yunus Ayat 152

This simple choice between good and evil is only made difficult because we forget easily. We always think of the present and leave the future to sort itself out. When we do something Haraam, the pleasure is immediate. Eg. when we steal, we receive the goods immediately; when we obtain power, we can control others at once.

As Allah says in the Qur’an: “….. and whatever good thing you spend in charity shall be for your own selves; and give not except seeking the pleasure of Allah…” Suratul Baqara Ayat 272

However, when we do something good, the rewards are not immediate; they come later. Eg. when we study for an exam, the rewards come after we have finished the exam and are shown the results; a planted seed takes many

years to mature before we can taste the fruit. Similarly, for every one of our actions there is an immediate reaction in our life during the hereafter. Anything we do is not wasted, even if the effects of it are not apparent to us directly.

Only someone who is ignorant and cares nothing for the next life will make the choice that benefits him/her immediately.

“Whoever dies, sees me, whether he be a believer or a hypocrite.” Imam Ali (AS)

If we are believers, we will be happy to see the Imam, but if we are hypocrites we will become sad when we see him.

When the Angel of Death (Malak-ul-Maut/Israel) arrives, he will tell us not to worry (especially if we have a record of good deeds). Then he will say: ‘By Allah, I am kinder to you then your father. Now open  your eyes and look.’

Then our spiritual eyes will open: and we will hear the following call: “O SOUL THAT ARE AT REST! RETURN TO YOUR LORD, WELL PLEASED WITH HIM, WELL-PLEASING HIM. SO ENTER AMONG MY SERVANTS AND ENTER INTO MY GARDENS.”

At that time, if we have let our conscience (nafs) guide us throughout our life then this will be a direct call from Allah to our peaceful souls. Such a soul is both confident in Allah’s promise and is sure of the way it made it’s choices in this world. It was aware of both the excesses and afflictions of the world, but had faith in Allah’s mercy. Thus, a true believer leaves this world without any sorrow and without any care.