I have come up with a campaigncalled "By Allah, I shall certainly
discipline you, O nafs". This is a campaign that promotes
self-development and jihad an-nafs. I am going to set up programs for
purifying the soul,softening the heart and reminding one of death, and
I want to post lectures by trustworthy shaykhs.
Is there anything wrong with saying I shall certainly discipline the
nafs that was created by Allah?
Does the fact that this title contains an oath mean that other members
are compelled tojoin the campaign? Please note that I said that
whoever posts a comment on this topic will be regarded as having
joined us in this campaign.
Praise be to Allah.
There is nothing wrong with a person saying to himself, "I
shallcertainly discipline you, O nafs" if he is disciplining himself
in accordance with the teachings of Islam. Even though Allah created
the nafs, the main purpose for which Allah has prescribed religion is
to discipline the nafs, purify it, and instruct it to do acts of
worship and obedience. To Allah belong the creation and the
commandment.
Imam al-Aajurri (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
If someone were to say: what evidence is there for discipliningthe
nafs? The answer is: The Qur'aan, the Sunnah and the words of the
Muslim scholars. End quote from Adab an-Nufoos, p. 9
He also said (p. 17):
How bad is the situation of the one who neglects to discipline his
nafs and train it on the basis of knowledge; and how good is the
situation of the one who pays attention to disciplining hisnafs and
knows what Allah has enjoined upon him and what He has forbidden to
him, and is patient in going against the whims and desires of his
nafs, and seeks the help of Allah the Almighty in doing so. End quote.
And he narrated in his book (p. 13) that ar-Rabee' ibn Anas said,
concerning the verse "Ward off from yourselves and your families a
Fire (Hell)" [at-Tahreem 66:6]: Discipline and train yourselves and
your families to adhere to the commands of Allah, may He be glorified
and exalted.
And he narrated (p. 14) that Sa'eed ibn Jubayr said: that is: proper
etiquette and manners.
Then he (may Allah have mercy on him) said (p. 15): Do you not see,
may Allah have mercy on you, that your Lord Most Generous is urging
you to discipline yourself and your families. Pay heed to Allah and
make yourselves adhere to that. End quote.
Based on that: there is nothing wrong with the phrase mentioned and
there is nothing wrong with giving the group the title mentioned, even
if this phrase was not narrated in this way from some of the Salaf, so
long as it is Islamically acceptable in and of itself and does not
include anything that is not appropriate according to Islam.
If you choose a title that is similar in meaning, such as
"Self-discipline" or "Training the nafs" and so on, that is also good.
Such words were used as book titles by some of the Salaf.
The oath mentioned is not regarded as compelling anyone to join the
group; rather he is a member if he accepts the conditions stipulated
in the group.
And Allah knows best.
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