Harun Yahya - KNOWING ONE'S SOUL

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KNOWING ONE'S SOUL

Another very important piece of information the Qur'an gives us about man concerns his "soul" (an-nafs). The "soul," as commonly used in the Qur'an, means "ego" or "one's personality."

In the Qur'an, Allah explains the two aspects of soul: the one inspiring evil and wicked deeds, and the other, guarding against every inculcation of evil. The Qur'an explains this in Surat ash-Shams:

By the Soul, and the proportion and order given to it; and its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right; truly, he succeeds that purifies it, and he fails that corrupts it! (Surat ash-Shams: 7-10)

As is evident from the above verses, evil exists in every man's soul. However, he who purifies his soul will attain salvation. Believers do not surrender their selves to the evil in their soul; they simply avoid it with the guidance of Allah's inspiration. As the Prophet Yusuf (as) said: "Not that I am free from sin: man's soul is prone to evil-except his to whom my Lord has shown mercy…" (Surah Yusuf: 53), provides the right manner of thinking for a believer.

Since the soul "is prone to evil," a believer must always remain vigilant about his soul. As the Prophet Muhammad (saas) also said, "the greatest struggle is the struggle against one's self (nafs)." The soul unceasingly tempts a person and never earns him Allah's approval. As it does all these things it tries to present alluring alternatives. A believer, however, thanks to his fear of Allah, is not deceived by this "misleading" attribute of the soul. He always turns towards what is right to lead a life in compliance with Allah's Will. Such is the attitude of a wise person as opposed to a foolish one, as the Prophet (saas) said:

A wise person is one who keeps a watch over his bodily desires and passions, and checks himself from that which is harmful and strives for that which will benefit him after death; and a foolish person is one who subordinates himself to his cravings and desires and expects from Allah the fulfilment of his futile desires. (Tirmidhi)

Oct 01, 2009


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Daily Comments

GOOD MANNERS	THE FACT THAT ISLAMIC MORAL VALUES HAVE NOT YET PREVAILED ON EARTH MUST AROUSE ALL MUSLIMS’ FEELINGS OF PUBLIC DUTY
GOD INCREASES HIS BLESSINGS ON THOSE WHO ARE GRATEFUL	THE MODESTY OF BELIEVERS
RIGHTEOUSNESS	THE BELIEVERS ARE THE GUARDIANS OF ONE ANOTHER
BELIEVERS ARE MODEST FROM THE HEART

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A CONSIDERATE AND MATURE CHARACTER MAKES A BELIEVER'S MORAL VIRTUES EVEN MORE VALUABLE	ALLAH ACCEPTS SUPPLICATIONS
ALLAH COMMANDS IN THE QUR'AN THAT HE BE FEARED	ALLAH COMMANDS IN THE QUR'AN THAT HE BE FEARED
ALLAH CREATED ALL PEOPLE FROM NOTHING AND GAVE THEM LIFE	ALLAH DEMEANS THE UNBELIEVERS IN THIS LIFE
ALLAH'S BEAUTIFUL PROMISES TO BELIEVERS NECESSITATE THAT THEY REMAIN HOPEFUL	ALLAH'S INSPIRATION TO EVERY MAN: CONSCIENCE
ALLAH'S PROMISE	ALLAH WARNS HUMANITY WITH THE QUR'AN
A SOCIETY THAT LIVES BY ISLAMIC MORAL VALUES IS BUILT ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF LOVE AND COMPASSION	BEING RESOLUTE IN WORSHIP
BELIEF IN ALLAH MUST BE STRENGTHENED IF THE KILLINGS ARE TO COME TO AN END	BELIEF IS THE ONLY WAY TO ENJOY BLESSINGS
BELIEVERS ARE DESTINED TO BE MORALLY VIRTUOUS	BELIEVERS ARE DETERMINED IN THEIR WORSHIP OF ALLAH
BELIEVERS ARE HAPPY IN THIS WORLD AND THE NEXT	BELIEVERS ARE JOYFUL AND AT PEACE UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES
BELIEVERS ARE MODEST FROM THE HEART	BELIEVERS’ COMPASSION
BELIEVERS' CONSTANTLY GROWING FERVOR OF FAITH	BELIEVERS' ENDEAVORS
BELIEVERS LEAD PEACEFUL LIVES OUT OF REACH OF STRESS AND ITS HARMFUL CONSEQUENCES	BELIEVERS' LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER
BELIEVERS' LOVE TOWARDS ANIMALS	CALLING OTHERS TO ALLAH'S PATH WITH WISE AND GOOD METHODS
CLEANSING OF THE EVIL OF THE LOWER-SELF	COURAGE ACCORDING TO THE QUR'AN
DEATH IS A BEGINNING, NOT AN END	DETERMINATION
DIVINE WISDOM BEHIND DISEASES	DONATING WHAT ONE LOVES
DOUBT IS A SERIOUS OBSTACLE IN THE WAY OF PURE REASON	DUE STRIVING FOR ALLAH’S APPROVAL
ESCAPING UNAWARENESS - 1	ESCAPING UNAWARENESS - 2
ESCAPING UNAWARENESS – 3	EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CREATED FOR A GOOD PURPOSE
EXAMPLES OF SELF-SACRIFICE IN THE LIFE OF THE ASHAB AL-QIRAM (the Prophet's (saas) Companions)	FEAR, RESPECT, AND LOVE OF ALLAH MUST BE TOGETHER
FORBEARANCE AND DETERMINATION IN TRUSTING ALLAH	FOR BELIEVERS, THERE IS GOOD IN ALL THINGS
GOD BESTOWS UNDERSTANDING ON THOSE WHO FEAR HIM	GOD COMMANDS US TO BE JUST
GOD INCREASES HIS BLESSINGS ON THOSE WHO ARE GRATEFUL	GOD IS THE GIVER OF HONOUR
GOOD AND EVIL ACCORDING TO THE QUR'AN	GOOD MANNERS
HEEDLESSNESS	HELPING ONE ANOTHER IN GOODNESS AND PIETY
HOW CAN A SINCERE PERSON ESCAPE SUPERFICIALITY?	HOW DO PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEY BEAR THE SPIRIT OF ALLAH LIVE?
HOW IS MERCY DEFINED IN THE QUR'AN?	HOW TO SEE THE GOOD IN THINGS THAT HAPPEN (I)
HOW TO SEE THE GOOD IN THINGS THAT HAPPEN (II)	IN ORDER NOT TO FEEL REGRET IN THE HEREAFTER
IN PATIENCE, THE FAITHFUL KNOW NO LIMITS AND COMPETE WITH ONE ANOTHER	INSENSITIVITY, APATHY AND INDIFFERENCE ARE SCOURGES FROM SATAN AND TO BE AVOIDED BY MUSLIMS
IN THE MORALITY OF THE QUR'AN, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR DESPAIR OR DISTRUST	IN THE MORALITY OF THE QUR'AN, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR DESPAIR OR DISTRUST
IT IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE RELIGION FOR A BELIEVER TO SAY ''I AM NOT STRONG ENOUGH'' ON ANY MATTER	JUSTICE
KNOWING THAT THERE MAY BE BAD IN EVENTS THAT SEEM TO BE GOOD AND GOOD IN EVENTS THAT SEEM TO BE BAD	LEGITIMATE AND ILLEGITIMATE LOVE
LIFE IN THE SOCIETY OF IGNORANCE	LIVING BY THE QUR'AN'S VALUES IS EASY
LOVE AND HAPPINESS STEM FROM FAITH	LOVE IS A GREAT BLESSING FOR BELIEVERS, WHILE LOVELESSNESS IS A TORMENT FOR NON-BELIEVERS
LOVE OF ALLAH IS ESSENTIAL IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE BONDS OF LOVE BETWEEN PEOPLE	LOVING FOR ALLAH'S SAKE
LYING DEMONSTRATES DEVOTION TO SATAN	MAKING A MISTAKE DOES NOT MEAN ONE WILL BE ANY LESS LOVED
MAN WILL ALSO ACCOUNT FOR HIS THOUGHTS AND INTENTIONS	MARRIAGE
MERCY SHOWN TOWARDS BELIEVERS	MOROSENESS AND PESSIMISM HAVE NO PLACE IN THE QUR'ANIC MORAL VALUES
MUTUAL INFLUENCE	NEVER FORGET THAT THE ONLY GUIDE IS THE QUR'AN
OBEYING THE MAJORITY MISLEADS MAN FROM THE RIGHT PATH	ONLY ALLAH JUDGES
ONLY UNBELIEVERS DESPAIR OF ALLAH'S MERCY	OUR PROPHET'S (SAAS) SOLE GUIDE WAS THE QUR'AN
PASSION AND DESIRE ARE OBSTACLES TO HAPPINESS	PATIENCE
PATIENCE FOR ILLNESS	PONDERING ON THE QUR'AN
QUARRELLING CAUSES LOSS OF STRENGTH	REFRAINING FROM IDOLATRY
REMINDING PEOPLE ABOUT THE HEREAFTER	RIGHTEOUSNESS
RIGHTEOUS PERSON TURNS TO ALLAH WITH REPENTANCE AND IS SINCERE IN DEED AND INTENTION TO HIM	SATAN DESIRES TO INFECT PEOPLE WITH HOPELESSNESS
SATAN STRIVES TO HINDER MAN FROM RECOGNIZING THE GOOD	SATAN WANTS TO INSTIL HOPELESSNESS IN PEOPLE
SEEING GOOD IN ALL THAT HAPPENS	SEEKING ONLY ALLAH'S CONSENT
SEEKING THE MOST OF THE GOOD PLEASURE OF ALLAH	SELFISHNESS BRINGS NOTHING BUT LOSS
SENSING INSINCERITY: THE SIXTH SENSE	SOME PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY, THOUGH THEY SAY THEY BELIEVE
SPEAKING THROUGH TRUST IN ALLAH	SPEAKING WITH AWARENESS THAT THE LIFE OF THE WORLD IS TRANSITORY
TELLING LIES	THE BELIEVERS ARE THE GUARDIANS OF ONE ANOTHER
THE CONSCIENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF PERFECTED FAITH	THE CRITERION OF APPRAISAL IN THE SOCIETY OF 'IGNORANCE'
THE DEVILISH SYSTEM IN THE SOCIETY OF THE IGNORANT	THE ENTHUSIASM OF BELIEVERS
THE ERROR OF DEFERRING ACTS OF WORSHIP UNTIL OLD AGE	THE ERROR OF 'FOLLOWING THE CROWD'
THE 'FACTS OF LIFE' IDEA	THE FACT THAT ISLAMIC MORAL VALUES HAVE NOT YET PREVAILED ON EARTH MUST AROUSE ALL MUSLIMS’ FEELINGS OF PUBLIC DUTY
THE FAITHFUL INVITE ALSO THOSE AROUND THEM TO BE SINCERE	THE FALSE CONCEPTION OF RESPECT IN THE RELIGION OF THE IGNORANT
THE GOOD WORD IS CALLING TO ALLAH	THE GREATEST REWARD: ALLAH'S ETERNAL SATISFACTION WITH THEM
THE HAPPINESS THAT COMES FROM KNOWING THAT EVERYTHING IS CREATED FOR THE BEST CAN BE SEEN ON BELIEVERS’ FACES AT EVERY MOMENT	THE HIDDEN INSINCERITY OF THOSE CAUGHT UP IN DESPAIR AND DISTRUST
THE IDEAL OF SOME SUPERFICIAL PEOPLE IS SIMPLY TO LIVE	THE INFINITE LOVE TO BE ENJOYED BY THE WILL OF ALLAH
THE KEY TO FAITHFULNESS: LOVE AND FEAR OF ALLAH	THE LEADERS OF THE FALSE WORLD WHO CALL OTHERS TO THE FIRE
THE MODESTY OF BELIEVERS	THE MORAL PERFECTION CONFERRED BY PERFECTED FAITH
THE MORAL VALUES BELIEVERS DISPLAY IN THE FACE OF ADVICE AND REMINDERS	THE MORAL VALUES OF IGNORANCE -1
THE MORAL VALUES OF IGNORANCE -2	THE MORAL VALUES OF IGNORANCE -3
THE ONLY SOLUTION TO LACK OF ENTHUSIASM: FEAR OF ALLAH	THE OUTLOOK OF BELIEVERS ON THE LIFE OF THIS WORLD
THE PURPOSE OF A BELIEVER'S LIFE: THE APPROVAL OF ALLAH	THE REGRET THAT MAN FEELS IN THE WORLD
THERE IS NO COMPULSION OR FORCE IN ISLAM; RELIGION OF ISLAM IS OBSERVED WITH ABSOLUTE SINCERITY	THE ROLE OF COMPUTERS AND THE INTERNET IN THE DISSEMINATION OF THE MORAL VALUES COMMANDED BY ALLAH AND THE SINISTER ASPECTS OF THE 'COMPUTER BUFF' CHARACTER IN THE RELIGION OF IGNORANCE THAT BELONGS TO A CULTURE FAR REMOVED FROM THE RELIGION
THE SATANICALLY-INSPIRED IDEA OF ''TAKING PLEASURE IN SORROW''	THE SECRET INSINCERITY OF THOSE CAUGHT UP IN DESPAIR
THE SECRET OF MODESTY	THE SECRETS OF PATIENCE
THE SOCIETY OF THE IGNORANT IMAGINES THAT THE EXPECTATION OF GAIN IS REALLY LOVE	THE SOURCE OF MOCKERY: ARROGANCE
THE SPIRITUAL STRENGTHS ARISING FROM MUTUAL LOVE AND SOLIDARITY AMONG BELIEVERS	THE STATE OF BEING PLEASED WITH ALLAH
THE STRENGTH OF BELIEVERS IS DERIVED FROM THEIR SINCERITY	THE STRENGTH OF BELIEVERS IS DERIVED FROM THEIR SINCERITY
THE SUBMISSION OF PEOPLE OF PERFECTED FAITH TO DESTINY	THE UNDERSTANDING OF RELIGION IN THE SOCIETY OF IGNORANCE
THE WISDOM BEHIND MISTAKES	THE WORLD CAN ONLY BE A LIVABLE PLACE AS LONG AS THERE IS SUBMISSION TO ALLAH'S PROTECTION
THINKING SERIOUSLY ABOUT FAITH...	THOSE WHO HAVE TRUE PATIENCE
THOSE WHO PRACTICE EVIL IN SECRET, PRETENDING TO BE NAÏVE AND INNOCENT	TO BE FORGIVING OF MISTAKES
TRUE NATURE OF ALL BELIEVERS ARE MORALLY PERFECT	TURNING TOWARDS ALLAH
UNBELIEVERS HAVE SUBMITTED TO ALLAH IN THE FACE OF THEIR HELPLESSNESS	UNHAPPY PEOPLE HAVE FALSE BELIEFS
VULGARITY: A SNARE OF SATAN	WHAT HAPPENS IF PEOPLE DO NOT LIVE BY THE QUR'ANIC UNDERSTANDING OF MERCY?
WHAT IS EARNED FROM SINCERITY	WHAT KIND OF BELIEF IN ALLAH SHOULD A BELIEVER WITH IMMACULATE FAITH POSSESS?
WHY DO YOU DECEIVE YOURSELF?