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Taking Control over the Self

The procedure of the ideology in educating the self is that it does not call for suppressing its wishes because repressing kills its activity and scatter its energies. So it doesn’t work and doesn’t produce. At the same time the Islamic ideology doesn’t urge to release its wishes without restraints; rather it urges on following a wise policy with it. Ameeralmu’amineen (A.S.) says: “The best administering is administering the self” 196

The operation of taking control over the self can be achieved through controlling its wishes and directing her caprices towards moderation. It is also achieved through calling it to account, the Imam Mousa Ibna Ja’afar says: “He is not of us who doesn’t call his self to account once a day; so when he did good he asks Allah to increase it and when he did evil, he asks Allah’s forgiveness and repents to Him” 197

We must point out that the Islamic ideology does not recommend the crooked manners to control the self; it is narrated from Talha, that he said: A person one day went out and took his clothes out, wallowed in scorching heat saying to himself: Taste, the torture of Hell is hotter, are you satisfied with your state as a carrion at night and idleness at day?! He said: As that man was in that state the prophet (S.W.A.) saw him and came to him, he said:

My self has over powered me, the prophet (S.W.A.) said to him: “Hasn’t there been any other way except what you have done?” 198

From this direction we know that at the time which the Islamic ideology urges every truthful attempt of man to take control over his self we also find that it doesn’t recommend the un rational manners to control the self, as the soul needs patience and a lasting policy, and a special training in order to refrain from its brutal habits like that training which Ameeralmu’amineen (A.S.) swore to follow with his self… “I swear by Allah a swearing excluding by it Allah’s will only-I will train myself a training with which it is satisfied with a loaf of bread as a food staff and salt to be her condiment…” 199

One really becomes over whelmed with Imam’s ability to control his self although funds were levied to him from different countries of the Islamic Caliphate during his Caliphate years, he (A.S.) had lived up to his oath.

It is narrated from Habbat Al Arneei that he said: a plate of “Falouzag” (i- e a kind of sweet) was brought to Ameeralmu’amineen (A.S.). He saw its purity and taste; he put his finger in it till it reached its bottom then he drew it without taking any of it then he smacked his finger and said: “The “Halaal” is tasteful, it is not “Haraam” but I don’t like to habituate myself to what I haven’t habituated it, lift it up” they lifted it up” 200

He was putting the grouts of barley in a plate and locked it up, he was asked about that he (A.S.) replied: “I fear those two boys may put something of oil or butter in it” 201

Notes:

196. Mizaanil Hikma 10: 134 from Ghurarel Hikam.

197. The morals of Ahlilbait sayed M. Alsadre : 351, Alwaafi 3: 62, from Alkaafi.

198. Almehajjah Albaiza’a: Almuhaquaq alkaashaani 8: 68, Ala’alami foundation edit: 2.

199. Nehjilbalagha: Subhi Alsaalih: 419.

200. Wassaaeil Alsheea’a 16: 508, Dar Ehiaaelturaath elarabi.

201. Wassaaeil Alsheea’a 16: 509.

Adapted from: "The Role of Ideology in Constructing The Human Being" by: "Ar-Risaleh Center"

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