The Struggle between Divine Will & Ego’s Wish
In daily life, every person finds themselves confronted
by an inner struggle; a battle not visible to the naked eye, yet very real
within the heart and mind. It is not a war fought with swords or guns, but a
silent conflict – a battle between good and evil; between light and darkness.
It is a clash between divine guidance and personal desires; between what Allah
has commanded and what the Nafs (the passionate soul) yearns to do. This
struggle does not begin in the streets or in society; it begins within the
heart itself. It is a constant battle; it starts from childhood and lasts until
death. Whoever triumphs in this struggle achieves true success.
The Holy Qur’an describes the Nafs in various ways. There is the Nafs that inclines towards evil, known as “an-nafs al-ammarah bis-su’,” as mentioned in Surah Yusuf, Verse 54: “Indeed, the soul commands evil, except for the one upon whom my Lord has mercy.” This state is dangerous, for it normalises sin; it justifies disobedience; it turns what is forbidden into pleasure. Yet Allah, in His mercy, grants the opportunity to purify this Nafs, to transform it into a tranquil soul (an-nafs al-mutma’innah), as mentioned in Surah Al-Fajr: “O soul at peace, return to your Lord, pleased and pleasing.”