1. Struggle against the Self (Jihad al-nafs)
By: Aisha F. Soleja

2. What is Jihad al-nafs?
Jihad al-nafs is the struggle against evil ideas, desires and powers of lust, anger, and insatiable imagination, placing all of them under the dictates of reason and faith in obedience to Allah’s commands, and finally, purging all satanic ideas and influences from one’s soul. This struggle is considered as the Major struggle (al-Jihad al-Akbar)

3. Why is it important? Set a good example Build Patience Develop
Character
Survival

4. Evidence
وعن أمير المؤمنين علي ابن ابي طالب ( عليه السلام ) قال : ان رسول الله ( صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم ) بعث سريه ـ فرقة عسكرية ـ فلما رجعوا قال : « مرحباً بقوم قضوا الجهاد الاصغر وبقي عليهم الجهاد الاكبر ».
قيل : يا رسول الله وما الجهاد الاكبر ؟. قال : « جهاد النفس » ثم قال : « افضل الجهاد من جاهد نفسه التي بين جبينه »

5. The effects ……
When the divine forces are victorious, a person emerges as a virtuous and blessed being, in the company of prophets, and the religious. When, however, the satanic forces dominate, the person becomes rebellious and vicious and is grouped with oppressors, wrongdoers and those who are cursed.

6. One evening an Old Man told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two (2) wolves inside us all.” One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?” The old Cherokee simply replied:
The one you feed

7. Sources
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8. Thanks you 