I have come up with a campaign called "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
membersare compelled to join 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 shall
certainly 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 forwhich 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 fordisciplining the
nafs? The answer is: The Qur'aan, the Sunnah and the wordsof 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 his nafs 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 Almightyin doing so. End quote.
And he narrated in his book (p. 13) that ar-Rabee' ibn Anas said,
concerning the verse "Ward off from yourselvesand 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 toAllah 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, suchas
"Self-discipline" or "Training the nafs" and soon, that is also good.
Suchwords were used as book titles by some of the Salaf.
The oath mentioned is not regarded as compelling anyone to jointhe
group; rather he is a member if he accepts the conditions stipulated
in the group.
And Allah knows best.
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