EGO - A Most Dangerous Sin

Islam & Ego

In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

What is the Quran's perspective on ego?

[Quran 2:54] Recall that Moses said to his people, "O my people, you have wronged your souls by worshiping the calf. You must repent to your Creator. You shall kill your egos. This is better for you in the sight of your Creator." He did redeem you. He is the Redeemer, Most Merciful. 

What is this thing called "ego" which God advises us to kill? We all have a feeling of what it is, but Western culture has confused the issue for us. The dictionary definition of ego is almost useless, perhaps even harmful:

The thinking, feeling and acting self that is conscious of itself and aware of its distinction from the selves of others and from the objects of its thought and other operations. 

That sounds harmless enough, doesn’t it? But is it really? Interestingly, even the dictionary suggests the Quranic truth. The word "distinction" is the key here. The very word implies that some are better than others, and thus should be followed in preference to others. But the messengers are just vehicles for God’s guidance, and it is that guidance we must follow, not the individuals themselves. In the same way, making a distinction between others and ourselves implies that one or the other is inherently better. Yet we know that the only thing which distinguishes the people is righteousness:

O people, we created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may recognize one another. The best among you in the sight of God is the most righteous. God is Omniscient, Cognizant (49:13).

And even righteousness comes from God alone:

[Quran 74:56] They cannot take heed against God's will. He is the source of righteousness; He is the source of forgiveness.

Our ego directs us to make distinction among our self and others, making us better than them in our own eyes. It is also the piece that makes us feel that we have some power, control or influence over things. It is the piece that gives importance to our personal opinions, to our grudges, to our desires.

 
The ego is that piece which got us into trouble in the first place when we did not stand up for God’s absolute power during the heavenly feud! It is because of it that we are going through this life—the make-up test.

The Quran gives us examples of the result of following our egos rather than killing them. It teaches us that it was ego that provoked Adam’s son Cain into murdering his brother Abel (5:30). Through the example of the governor’s wife who had tempted Joseph it teaches us that "the self is an advocate of vice" (12:53).

Following our ego puts us in danger of being covered by the following verse:

[Quran 47:14] Are those enlightened by their Lord the same as those whose evil works are adorned in their eyes, and they follow their own opinions? 

Following our ego causes us to be arrogant to the extent of rejecting God’s messengers:

[Quran 2:87] ...Is it not a fact that every time a messenger went to you with anything you disliked, your ego caused you to be arrogant? Some of them you rejected, and some of them you killed. 

Finally, we are given the example of David whose repentance was reinforced with God’s teaching to

[Quran 38:26] ...rule among the people equitably, and do not follow your personal opinion, lest it diverts you from the way of God"

Humility is antithesis of ego. Its importance is emphasized throughout the scriptures. (See also 17:37 and 25:63):

[Quran 31:18-19] You shall not treat the people with arrogance, nor shall you roam the earth proudly. God does not like the arrogant showoffs "Walk humbly and lower your voice - the ugliest voice is the donkey’s voice."

Man’s pride causes his humiliation, but he who is humble of spirit obtains honor. (Proverbs 29 verse 23) God teaches us that the ego can become an idol and the consequences can be detrimental for our salvation. Those who idolize their selves or egos may be sent astray by God, despite the knowledge they acquired:

[Quran 25:43] Have you seen the one whose god is his own ego? Will you be his advocate?

[Quran 45:23] Have you noted the one whose god is his ego? Consequently, God sends him astray, despite his knowledge, seals his hearing and his mind, and places a veil on his eyes. Who then can guide him, after such a decision by God? Would you not take heed?

How do we go about killing our egos? God gives us many means of working at this. For example, advice has been given to us to use criticism from someone else to kill the ego. Even if it was not correct, you have used it constructively. (Easier said than done though!) Every time we make a mistake, then repent and try to make amends, we are killing our ego. Every time we take ourselves to task for not being as eager to work righteousness, for not being straightforward, for backsliding, for falling into gossip or vain talk, we are killing our ego. 

 Sadly, the ego is like a hearty weed. Just when you think you have it licked, it sprouts right back up again. We must remember that God is the only one who really can do anything—including killing our ego. However, it is us who must make the initial decision to improve ourselves:

[Quran 13:11] ...God does not change the condition of any people unless they themselves make the decision to change...

  

Whenever you want to pursue the truth and verify anything you hear about Islam, we urge you to please use the only valid and divine source of Islam, Quran.

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This Lecture Will Change Your Life ~ Islam and Ego ~

Stages of Nafs - A Concept of Intangible Self

The different stages of Nafs and 
How to strive towards the best?

Bismillah

When Allah subhaanahu wa ta'aala creates a human, He infuses Ruh in them. Ruh is the spirit or soul of a person which is breathed into a person when they are in the womb, to breathe life into the developing foetus. The status of Ruh (Soul) is such as is mentioned by Allah in the Quran in the following verse:

‘‘Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die [He takes] during their sleep. Then He keeps those for which He has decreed death and releases the others for a specified term. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.’’ (Surah Az-Zumar 39:42)

Nafs is that part of Ruh which is handled by an individual. Nafs is one’s inner self. In the Quran, Allah has described three main types or stages of nafs. An individual can go through all three stages at one point in his life.

The three stages are:
1) Nafs al`Ammara Bissuu' (The Nafs that urges evil)
2) Nafs al`Lawwama (the Nafs that blames)
3) Nafs al`Mutma`inna (The Nafs at peace)

To better understand the concept of Nafs, we can compare it with Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of personality in which he states that there are three inherent components in one’s personality –

    a) The id
    b) The ego and
    c) The superego

Nafs al`Ammara Bissuu' can be defined as the id. This is the animal stage of nafs in which a person’s actions are governed by his emotions and are mostly evil or harmful for the soul. A person cannot control temptation when in this stage. According to Freud, id is raw, savage and immoral. This stage of nafs is guided by the pleasure seeking principle. It does not consider right or wrong and only takes into account the satisfaction of desires.

It is mentioned in the Quran:

And I do not acquit myself. Indeed, the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil, 
except those upon which my Lord has mercy. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful."
(Surah Yusuf 12:53)

The Nafs al`Ammara Bissuu' is guided by earthly desires and passions.

Nafs al`Lawwama is the second stage of nafs which comprises of the Freudian concepts of ego and superego. It is a self-critical stage during which an individual reviews his actions. Good deeds are thought upon and bad deeds are rejected. The ego here acts like the haram police. It decides which desires to fulfil and in what way. The superego is the ethical aspect of personality which considers only the right action regardless of the reality or consequences. The ego is one which decides what is to be done with a desire. Thus, Nafs al`Lawwama is the stage of conflict and the stage of decisions in which the good actions win majority of the times. In this stage, the nafs is also referred to as the soul that blames, as is mentioned in the Quran in the following verse:

‘‘And I swear by the reproaching soul [to the certainty of resurrection].’’
(Surah Al-Qiyamah 75:2)

This stage of nafs shall be the one which blames an individual for all his evil actions on the day of judgement.

Nafs al`Mutma`inna is the highest and purest stage of nafs which perhaps Freud never dealt with. In this stage, our desires are at rest and one knows what is right and finds no difficulty or conflict of interest while performing the righteous deeds or actions. An individual is content with his worldly life and focuses more towards a better hereafter. This nafs is referred to in the Quran in the following verse:

[To the righteous it will be said], "O reassured soul, Return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], And enter among My [righteous] servants And enter My Paradise." 

(Surah Al-Fajr 89: 27-30)

Ibn Al-Qayyim has mentioned: The nafs is a single entity, although it’s state may change from Nafs al`Ammara Bissua, to Nafs al`Lawwama, to Nafs al`Mutma`inna which is the final aim of perfection.

Striving towards the best and the purest stage of nafs is to have total faith in Allah, be content with your worldly affairs, not be dissatisfied etc. All this can be achieved step wise by defeating the 7 evils of nafs, i.e.

(1) False pride
(2) Greed
(3) Envy
(4) Lust
(5) Backbiting
(6) Stinginess and
(7) Malice

Nothing can be achieved without Allah’s help. One needs to keep making dua to Allah to have control over our nafs along with working to conquer each evil.

In his book Jihad-un-Nafs, Imam Ghazali mentions – The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: 

"There are two impulses in the soul, one from an angel which calls towards good and confirms truth; whoever finds this let him know it is from God and praise Him. Another impulse comes from the enemy which leads to doubt and denies truth and forbids good; whoever finds this, 
let him seek refuge in God from the accursed devil." (Tirmidhi)

God has armed soldiers which He has placed in the hearts and souls of others of His world, and none knows their true nature and actual number but He. The limbs of the body, five senses, will, instinct, knowledge, wisdom, reflection, emotive and intellectual powers are among those soldiers.

Jihad against one's own nafs is the primary war a believer has to wage. Indeed it is difficult to catch hold of your nafs and give it the Islamic shock treatment in today's world when you are surrounded by accomplices of Satan working round the clock to darken your heart. Let me tell you, they never leave even a tiny miny chance to do so! But in the end, when you triumph, it will be worth all the periods of angst and pain you went through. 

I pray Allah makes it easy for all Muslims to gain control over their nafs, eliminate the evils from our hearts and makes us worthy enough to enter the Jannah! 
Ameen.

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No Punishment Because of Coercion - Mankind and Satan

No Punishment Because of Coercion

Among the signs of the Endless Mercy of Allah upon His servants is the fact that He remits any deed man may commit under coercion, for the justice of judgment. Consequently, on the Day of Judgment man will not be called to account for whatever he is forced to do against his will, in conformity with the Saying of Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, (which means):

“Whoever disbelieves in Allah after his belief… except for one who is forced (to renounce his religion) while his heart is secure in faith.” [An-Nahl, 16: 106]

Hence, the one who is forced to declare disbelief, while his heart is a believer, will not be called to account for this. Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, has made the domain of accountability – which is what the heart believes – impossible to yield to any coercion. For you can force a man to do what you want against his will, but you can never force his heart to show you love, while it hates you, neither can you compel a heart to believe in what it rejects to believe in.

Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, informs us that the devil has no sway whatsoever over man, for sway can either be a coercive one, meaning to force man into doing something against himself by force, or it can be the sway of persuasion, where he can prevail on man to do something, so he does it voluntarily. But the devil holds neither the sway of coercion nor the sway of persuasion, he rather – as we have previously said – sneaks to man from the points of his weakness, thus adorning to him what the self yearns to, till he falls into sin. The glorious Ayah says:

“I cannot be called to your aid, nor can you be called to my aid.” [Ibrahîm, 14: 22]

Satan says that he does own the power to eliminate the reasons behind their screaming out of torture, to which he himself together with them is going. Then he disowns those who disbelieved because of his seduction, he tries to shirk his responsibility, saying as the Noble Qur’an relates, what means:

“Indeed, I deny your association of me (with Allah) before.” [Ibrahîm, 14: 22]

Hence, the first among Satan’s soldiers is ego, which makes man think he can achieve what he desires independently, and makes him worship himself, his mind, or means, or he thinks that he is more capable of legislating than Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, thereof he abandons the Doctrine of Allah, thus making his own laws, which they call positive law and so forth. We should know that Satan has material soldiers, who are Shayâtin (devils) from among mankind and jinn. They are those who have followed Satan, and adopted his doctrine, fighting for the sake of falsehood, combating sedtruth, and deriding the believers. Concerning those people, Allah, all praise and glory is to Him, says (what means):

“Satan has overcome them and made them forget the remembrance of Allah. Those are the party of Satan. Unquestionably, the party of Satan – they will be the losers.” [Al-Mujâdilah, 58: 19]

The party of Satan are those who try to spread atheism, resisting any call of truth, standing against Divine Messages, shunning people away from them, to the extent of waging war, and this in conformity with the Saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, (which means):

“Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the cause of Tâghut So fight against the allies of Satan. Indeed, the plot of Satan has ever been weak.” [An-Nisâ’, 4: 76]

As we have said there are devils from among mankind and jinn, as for those among mankind, they are the ones whom Satan has become their companion, that is to say closely associated with man. When Satan is close to a man and is adhering to him, it is a sign that this man has reached the utmost degree of sinning, and as long as the devil becomes an intimate companion to a person, he will never push him to goodness, but rather he will always push him towards evil, for he is an evil companion.

Such is the case with all evil companions, they aid one another and prop up each other’s heart to commit iniquity. One sees them unite in sinning, gather each night in a house where they drink liquors, commit adultery and all what incurs the Anger of Allah. Sinning binds them together with a firm bond in worldly life, but in the Hereafter things alter, and they turn enemies to one another.

Source: (Book) Mankind and Satan