The Soul (nafs) Is Like A Wild Horse

Based on the teachings of Abu Abdissalam during the seminar entitled: “Heart Therapy – Purification of the Soul” - A course offered by Al Kauthar institute.

When someone possesses a horse, which they depend on for their livelihood and transportation, it becomes imperative that the horse be tamed so as to display the utmost obedience.  If this horse is, at first, wild then its owner would try to control it through any means – by jumping on it, pulling its reins, tying it, etc.

If this person is successful at gaining control of the horse, the horse will obey their every command.  However, if this person leaves their horse untamed it will remain wild and disobedient.

Such is the parable of the soul.

The soul (nafs) must be trained regarding its inclinations.  The internal struggle that every Muslim faces is when one has a conflicting goal with their nafs. In other words, your nafs wants one thing and your iman (faith) causes you to want another thing.

Overcoming the inclinations of your nafs is a difficult and sometimes painful process. Like the person who tames his horse, one must endure through the difficulty and struggles in order to gain control. It is important to remain steadfast in the process; for, if one was to give up after receiving the slightest resistance, this trains the horse that all it needs to do is remain stubborn in order to get what it wants. Thus, giving in to the demands of the nafs makes the process of taming your nafs even harder. Instead, one must abide by the principle of delayed gratification.

Delayed Gratification: Putting off some pleasure in order to have greater gratification at a later point.

• For example: you struggle against your nafs (which may want to sleep or rest) in order to pray qiyaam (the night prayer).  At first this is difficult, but in time a routine is built.  Eventually, the reward you receive from Allah, outweighs any discomfort you may have faced. And the Mercy of Allah is that He continues to make this process easier as time goes on, and as your reward increases even further!

A word of caution: The longer you wait to tame your soul, the harder the process will be. Purification of the soul is like a bitter pill. At first you hate it- because it causes you pain, tastes bad, etc – but you tolerate it. Then, as its positive effects begin to show you begin to like it; then you begin to love it. Until finally…you cannot live without it.

~ by fesabilillah on August 3, 2010.