All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the final Messenger, Muhammad ﷺ.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Allah has placed a powerful force within every human being, and that force is the nafs (the self). This nafs can lead a person toward goodness, and it can also drag a person toward evil. A person becomes what they desire. Desires shape thoughts, and thoughts shape actions.
If the desire is good, a person moves toward righteousness. If the desire is evil, a person moves toward sin. This is why the greatest test of a human being is their own nafs.
Nafs and Shaytan
Many people think that Shaytan is our greatest enemy, but in reality, our nafs is even more dangerous. Shaytan whispers from the outside, but the nafs lives within us every moment.
Shaytan worshipped Allah for thousands of years and attained a high status, but arrogance destroyed him. Without the nafs, Shaytan would not have been so powerful. The nafs is the root of destruction.
How Is the Nafs Controlled?
There are only two ways:
- Struggling against the nafs (mujahadah)
- Filling the heart with the love of Allah
The righteous people of the past used to discipline their nafs through simplicity. They ate little, slept little, spent their nights in worship, and remembered Allah in solitude. They did this not because it was commanded, but because of their deep love for Allah.
The Balanced Way of the Prophet ﷺ
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us balance.
He was the most devoted worshipper of Allah, yet he fulfilled the rights of his family. He fasted, but he also broke his fast. He prayed at night and also rested.
He ﷺ taught us an essential truth:
Allah has not placed two hearts in one body. The heart is one, and it is meant for One.
Our Real Problem
We pray, we fast, and we call ourselves Muslims, but we have not given our entire heart to Allah.
Some hearts are filled with wealth, some with status, some with desires, and some with the world.
Just as the Ka‘bah was purified of idols, our hearts must also be purified of everything other than Allah.
The Easy Path: Following the Sunnah
When the Ummah became weak, Allah made the path easier for us: living according to the Sunnah.
Eating, drinking, dressing, dealing with people, and worshipping — all according to the Sunnah. In our time, this is the greatest form of struggle against the nafs.
Dhikr and Purification of the Heart
The heart is cleansed through dhikr (remembrance of Allah).
And it is polished through “La ilaha illallah.”
When the heart becomes clean, the nafs automatically weakens.
The Reality of Time
We often say we have no time, yet we spend hours on phones, the internet, and useless activities. If we manage our time correctly and give a portion of it to Allah, spiritual growth becomes possible.
Remember:
The path to Allah is not achieved by listening alone, but by practice.
The greatest obstacle is not the world — it is our own laziness.
The Station of Ihsan
Our goal is not miracles, worldly success, fame, or honor.
The real goal is to reach the station of Ihsan — to worship Allah as if you see Him.
When this state is achieved, the heart finds peace, certainty becomes firm, and complete trust in Allah is born.
Conclusion and Supplication
O Allah, purify our hearts from everything other than You.
Grant us true love for You.
Protect us from the evil of our nafs.
And grant us closeness to You.
Ameen, O Lord of the worlds.
