Combatting The Self

Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (pbuh) said that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) dispatched his soldiers to battle to fight the enemy and, upon their triumphant return, said: ‘Greetings on those who have successfully carried out the “Minor Combat” (jihad al-asghar), but have yet to engage themselves in the “Greater Combat”.’
He was asked: ‘O Prophet of Allah! What is the “Greater Combat”?
To which he replied: ‘Combat with the self(Jihad al-Nafs)

Imam Jafar(as) said:
“You have been made the physician for your own self. Medicine is prescribed for you; signs of good health are shown to you, and the direction for medicine is given to you. It is all up to you how you treat yourself.”

Imam Jafar(as) said:
“Make your heart a virtuous companion for yourself or like a child who does not fail to maintain good relations with parents. Consider your deeds as your father whom you follow, consider your soul as your enemy against whom you strive and consider your properties as borrowed for the safe return of which you are responsible.”

Imam Zayn al-Abideen(as) said:
“One who does not evaluate his deeds every day is not one of us. One must evaluate his deeds and pray to Allah to increase his good deeds, plead for forgiveness to Allah due to one’s committing evil deeds and turn to Him in repentance.”

Messenger of Allah(pbuh) said:
The strong person is the one who overcomes his own self (nafs).

Imam Jafar(as) said:
Whoever does not have a preacher from his heart, a restrainer from within himself, and does not have a guiding companion, his enemy will gain control of his neck.

Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (pbuh) narrated on the authority of the Imams before him, that the Holy Prophet (pbuh), in his advice to Imam
“Ali (pbuh), said:

‘O ‘Ali, the best thing about self struggle is when a person wakes up with no desire to wrong anyone.’

Imam Al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) who said:
Whoever controls his self (nafs) when he desires, when he fears, when he lusts, when he is angry, and when he is pleased, Allah will forbid his body from the Fire.

Amir al-Mu’mineen(as) said:
The true mujahid is the one who struggles against his own self (nafs).