Note: This is an Islamic article. Skip this article if you are not interested about Islam.

I have been aching to write an article about this Islamic subject for a long time. If I were to die tomorrow and I only have time to share with you one Islamic advice, this would be it. But ironically as important as this Islamic topic is, Muslims rarely talk about it and most don’t fully understand the concept. So hopefully, God willing, everybody will benefit from this article.

Every Muslim knows that Syaitan (Satan) is our enemy. He whispers suggestions to the children of Adam and encourage us to sin so we will join him in Hell. What a wretched plan indeed!  Further explanation of Syaitan and his motives would require a whole article in itself, but for today, I am going to write about a totally different enemy. An enemy not mentioned as much as Syaitan but is far more dangerous! An enemy that resides/lives within all of us.

Let me introduce you to your Nafs.

What is the Nafs?
Along with our souls, Allah has placed within us something called the ‘Nafs’ which means ‘Self’ in English. The weird thing about Malay Muslims today, wherever the word “nafsu” is mentioned, they immediately think you are referring to Lust and sex which is not the case. The Nafs or the ‘Self’ is the force that DESIRE for sexual intercourse, drink, eat, play video games, shopping etc. Whenever you WANT something, that is the Nafs in action.

The Nafs – It can be as simple as wanting to buy food to eat.

The Nafs has 3 types.

The Nafs that PUSHES YOU TO DO GOOD.
When you see a beggar and the Nafs inside of you say “Look at that beggar. He looks so pitiful. I will give him some money.” That is your good Nafs talking.

The Self-Blaming Nafs
When you commit an evil action and feel regretful, and you say “Why did I do that? Why did I return to this sin? Surely, I can do better than this!” This is the Self-blaming Nafs in effect.

The Nafs that PUSHES YOU TO DO EVIL
When you desire to commit a sin be it watching porno, gossiping about others, the need to cheat while doing business.. all this comes from the Evil Nafs, THAT IS WITHIN YOU, that pushes you to commit that evil deed.

These 3 nafs can happen in one day for example, in the morning you gave your seat to an elderly man in a crowded bus, then you go to work and cheat a customer and when you go home you feel regretful. The Good nafs, the Evil nafs and the Self-Blaming nafs all in one day.

The Good Nafs – On the way to work, you donate some money to a beggar.

The Evil Nafs – You curse and hurl insults on an employee.

The Self-Blaming Nafs – Later at home, you feel regretful of what you have done.

You can experince all the Nafs in one day.. Clear so far?
Now comes the bad news…

Syaitan (satan) is not your only enemy.
Unfortunately, even though your Good Nafs exists in you, by default, your Evil Nafs is stronger. So that means, even before Syaitan comes into the equation, you as a human being already have this urge to commit sins.

That’s what my Dad said when he saw a huge billboard advertising alcohol.
Wise words indeed.

Even though the mind says “No, this action is wrong”, the Evil Nafs takes over and you being weak, surrenders to your nafs
And that’s why during Judgment day, Syaitan will make an announcement to the Hell-dwellers:

How dangerous is the Evil Nafs!

This is a popular, good question. Syaitan will not insist on a particular sin. Syaitan is happy as long as you sin. It can be any sin. But the Nafs will insist on a particular specific sin. If you are fixated with one particular sin, and find yourself committing it again and again, that is your Evil Nafs.

The Internal Struggle that exists within you
However even though, the Evil Nafs is dominant by default, the Good Nafs and the self blaming Nafs still exists.. so that means once you are done doing the horrible sinful act, you’ll hate yourself, you cry, you get guilty and the bitterness will remain for the rest of your life.

Doing of good deeds on the other hand, is bitter at first but later you will feel the sweetness and be happy.

So that means everybody will have this internal tug of war, the Good Nafs and the Evil Nafs wanting to take control of you.

What happens if you follow your Evil Nafs and do no effort to curb it?
What happens if the human being always listens to his Evil Nafs? He does everything his Evil Nafs desire… play games for long hours, splurge on shopping, commit any imaginable sin  etc.? If you do not put your Evil Nafs on a tight leash, then you have effective made your Nafs a god.

So that means, even though you say you are Muslim, and instead of following the commands of Allah, you follow your desires…. indirectly, that means you are worshipping your nafs! How scary is that?

The worst part is, if a Muslim keep on following his Evil Nafs for a LONG TIME…. It will lead to apostasy.

Then how do you combat this disease of the Evil Nafs?

Declare war on your Nafs
In order to stop your Evil Nafs to turn to this huge insatiable beast, you must learn to say “No.” to it. You must learn to resist, struggle and say “No” to your Nafs. You need to be serious and strict with your Nafs. If you give in to your Evil Nafs, it will get stronger. If you deny it and follow your Good Nafs, the Good Nafs will get stronger.

Personally, the way I see it, the Evil Nafs is like a child. It likes to eat lots of candy but it does not know that the candy will cause tooth decay. So being a good parent you must take the candy away from the child even though it cries and pleads for it.

Honestly, my Evil Nafs does not look like a cute child.
And it also demands far worse things than candy. -__-

And ask yourself, why do we Muslims pray? Why do Allah insist that you pray ON TIME?! One of the reasons is to train your Nafs. Your Evil Nafs want to continue playing the video game but be strict with your Nafs and say “No.” and you get up and pray.

Even when you pray, your Nafs tells you to pray quickly because it’s bored.. but you must say “No.”, and try your best to focus and take your time. Only praying Muslims will realize this reality. Non-praying Muslims on the other hand are spectators of prayers. They only see the bowing up and down and they see it nothing but a form of exercise that does not bring benefit. That is so far from the truth! Do not judge what you do not know.

Ask yourself, why we fast during Ramadan? That is also to train your Evil Nafs. Islam trains the Evil Nafs to lower your gaze and stop ogling at girls.. something we all do like a reflex on any other month. It also trains the Evil Nafs to control the tougue and not spout vulgarities and backbiting. It trains the Evil Nafs not to listen to music filled with lewd lyrics. Oh if everybody takes Islam seriously we won’t be in such a sorry state as we are now!

What happens if you always say “No” to your Evil Nafs? You will soon realize that you have much better control of yourself. You have better self restraint.

I have seen 30 year old men being impatient and can’t wait 3 mins for their PC to load. It’s not a surprise he is also the one that likes to follows his vain desires.

You must also know that the Evil Nafs also pushes you to be excessive… even if the act is halal like eating or sleeping. Example: The Evil Nafs wants you to order lots of food when you are hungry. But you realize you can’t finish most of the food you ordered. The evil nafs also tend to be lazy…

We are living a test and the test is difficult. No doubt about it.
Once you start fighting your Evil Nafs you will find out that it is a very difficult challenge. And at times you will win. And at times you will lose. Do not give up and keep up the fight!

Lastly I would like to end this long article by giving you this verse from the Quran…

I can be bad without Syaitan
Brother Zul