The Prophet Jacob (as) replied...

The Prophet Jacob (as) replied: "Nay, but your own selves have made up a tale," ^2 namely your selves adorned such evil deeds in our eyes and provoked you to commit such evil deed. According to a tradition, the believers are required to invoke God Almighty by saying: "O Lord!

Do not leave me with my self for a twinkling of an eye." [^3] In his prayers of the complainants (munajat shakkin) the Noble Imam Zayn al-‘Àbidin (as) thus invokes God Almighty: "I complain to You of the self bidding man to evil, hastening toward misdeeds and sins. Afflicted by any evil, it cries out. It is niggardly when some good is supposed to be done to others by it. It is quite prone to sports and indulgence. It is imbued with neglect and negligence.

It leads me to hasten toward committing sins and impedes me from repentance.” The reproaching self (nafs lawwama) which is mentioned in the blessed Chapter in question and may imply conscience. It is in man’s nature to reproach himself owing…