ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Self Building Self-Struggle Self is our biggest and most staunch enemy who is permanently and continuously at war with reason; by listening to Satanic whispers he attacks the reason together with his soldiers to get it isolated and ultimately silenced, so that he becomes the sole-contender in the battle-field. His single goal is to force out God's favorite angels from the heart's kingdom and helping Satan to take over his absolute control.

Naturally, defeating such a treacherous enemy is not on easy task, but requires determination, resistance, perseverance, and even struggle -a struggle not only for once or twice, for a few days and few years but continuous one till the last breath of life, which is a hard, difficult, and serious struggle.

In order to defeat the self and to control passions we must fight hard by strictly following the commands of Prophet (S) and Infallible Imams (a.s.); with the help of reason must march forward preventing transgressions and encroachment of the self, and destroying the roots of his forces, so that reason could take over the power, and by taking inspirations from religious law could guide us upon the path of human perfection leading towards God's-Nearness.

We must know while confronting self, compromise and piece settlement is not possible, and what is required is a devastating blow making him crippled permanently from plotting any further conspiracies. In order to achieve happiness and salvation there is no other alternative except to follow this course, and because, of this reason struggle against the self has been called in traditions as -”Greater-Struggle” ( Jihad al-Akbar ).

Here we would quote few examples from the Commander of the Faithful Imam ‘Ali (a.s.): قال على عليه السلام: املكوا انفسكم بدوام جهادها. “Take over the possession of yourself--through continuous struggle.” [^1] And said: قال على عليه السلام: اغلبو اهوائكم وحاربوها فانها ان تقيدكم توردكم من الهلكة ابعد غاية. “Fight and dominate over self’s whims and passions.

Because otherwise if they succeeded in making you their prisoner -they will treat you in a most humiliating manner destroying you eventually.” [^2] And said: قال على عليه السلام: الا ان الجهاد ثمن الجنة فمن جاهد نفسه ملكها وهى اكرم ثواب الله لما عرفها. “Be aware! That Paradise is purchased through self-struggle. Therefore, who is engaged in self -struggle will be victorious.