What are Self-judgement and Self-control mean?
Self-judgment is to call oneself to account every day regarding the good deeds and wrongdoings. If the scale of acts of obedience overweighs that of acts of disobedience, we must thank God, lest we must discipline ourselves.
Self-control stands for protecting oneself against breach of the obligatory religious rites and the commitment of the forbidden.
It is necessary for the rational to train himself on self-judgment and self-control, since all human souls are susceptible to evil. If they are neglected, they go away from the right, but if they are controlled by means of guidance, they shine with virtues:
“… And (I swear) by the soul and that (Power) which designed it and inspired it with knowledge of evil and piety, those who purify their souls will certainly have everlasting happiness and those who corrupt their souls will certainly be deprived of happiness. (91:7-10)"
The Prophet (PBUH) said… “Before you do a matter that you intend, you should investigate its end result; if it is good, you then should keep on. If not, you should not do it." (1)
Amir ul-Mu'minin (A.S) related: “When he received the warriors that he had appointed for a campaign, the Prophet (PBUH) said to them: “Welcome to the people who performed successfully the minor jihad. Their mission now is to perform completely the major jihad … The major jihad is self-control. The best form of jihad is to strive one’s desires and whims." (2)
Imam Sadiq (A.S) said: “If you want all your supplications to be answered, you should despair of people totally and hope for that which is in Allah’s hands only. When Allah knows that a servant’s intent is totally attached to Him, He will answer all his supplications. You therefore call yourselves to account before others call them. On the Day of Resurrection, there are fifty situations each of which takes one thousand years. This is the meaning of Allah’s saying:
“On that Day (of Judgment), long as fifty thousand years, the angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him (70:4). (3)
“You have been appointed as the physician of yourself; the malady has been shown to you, the signs of recovery have been shown to you, and you have been guided to the remedy; hence, you should consider how you will treat yourself." (4)
Imam Kadhim (A.S) said: “He who does not call himself to account every day is not one of us. When he does so, he must ask Allah for more if he notices that he has done a good deed, and if he notices that he has committed an evildoing, he must seek Allah’ s forgiveness and must repent to Him." (5)
Notes:
1. Quoted from al-Wafi; part 3 page 62 (as quoted from al-Kafi).
2. Quoted from Bihar ul-Anwar; 15/2/40, as quoted from al-Amali and Me’aani al-Akhbar.
3. Quoted from al-Wafi; part 3 page 62 (as quoted from al-Kafi).
4. Quoted from al-Wafi; part 3 page 62 (as quoted from al-Kafi).
5. Quoted from al-Wafi; part 3 page 62 (as quoted from al-Kafi).
By: Sayyid Mahdi as-Sadr
maaref-foundation.com
Other links:
Arrogance
Disadvantages, Incentives, Levels & Sorts of Arrogance
Treatment of Arrogance
Greed is the Enemy of the Soul
Habituate your Tongue on Saying the Good
