When the Nafs Defends Itself

DAILYREFLECTION

If the past weeks’ “diseases of the heart” felt unrelatable, then this one is for you.
Self-satisfaction is the silent disease that convinces a person they have no disease.

Let us be frank. In the time of Imām al-Ghazālī and Imām al-Mawlūd, scholars lamented that diseased hearts were everywhere. If that was their verdict nine centuries ago, when mosques were full, distractions were scarce, and scholars abundant, how can we, with our vanity mirrors in our pockets and applause a tap away, claim otherwise?

We may think our hearts are pure because our rationalizations are clever, our records outwardly clean, and our rituals timely.

But test it: how quickly do we swell with pride, burn with envy, and harden against advice?

Ibn ʿAṭāʾillāh taught that the root of disobedience and indifference is being pleased with oneself, and the root of vigilance and virtue is discontentment with oneself.

It is said that Isa (AS) was walking with his disciple.

A man known for his drinking saw them, and remorse stirred in his heart.

He thought, “Perhaps I should change, and perhaps walking with the righteous will help.” So he drew near.

The disciple with Isa (AS) got irritated and thought, “Why is this impious man walking beside us?” and looked at him with contempt that only Allah could see.

A message then came to Isa (AS) from Allah: turn your disciple away and bring close the one who has just joined you.

Isa (AS) told the new follower, “Stay near and be watchful of the self.” To the disciple, he said, “Go, cleanse your intention, then return.”

The sinner humbled by his sin can be nearer than the worshipper deceived by his deeds.

What Praiseworthy Discontent Looks Like

Sidi Aḥmad al-Zarrūq described three signs that a person is not pleased with themself :

1. He interrogates himself and polices his every intention. Even Yūsuf(AS) said, “I do not declare myself innocent. Indeed, the soul commands to evil, except upon whom my Lord has mercy” (12:53).

2. He remains wary of his soul’s blemishes. He distrusts his lower impulses and seeks Allah’s help constantly.

3. He forces himself to hard tasks: eating a little less, giving when the hand tightens, choosing hidden deeds over public ones. He trains the nafs; he does not indulge it.

The marks of unhealthy self-content are the opposite.

A person becomes vigilant about his rights, indifferent to the rights of others, blind to his faults, yet preoccupied with the faults of people, and generous in excuses for himself while severe toward everyone else.

If you feel nothing in this diagnosis, that may be the symptom. The most dangerous illness is the one that says, “I am not here.”

Ask Allah to unveil your faults gently and give courage to correct them.

Each flaw shown is a roadmap, not an insult.

REFLECT ON THIS:

Where, this week, did you defend your nafs instead of disciplining it, and what would the disciplined response have been in that exact moment?

^{Share your reflections in the poll at the end of the email.}

WATERMELONWATCH

• UN inquiry concludes that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, citing killing, displacement, prevention of births, and conditions designed to destroy the population.

• Israel expands ground offensive in Gaza City, ordering residents to evacuate south despite overcrowded shelters and limited safe routes.

• Heavy airstrikes hit western Gaza City, destroying civilian homes and causing dozens of casualties, including children.

• Humanitarian crisis deepens, with UN officials warning that famine is spreading fast, especially in northern Gaza and areas already severely food insecure.

• Displacement intensifies: thousands are fleeing northern Gaza to overcrowded zones in the south; some are turning back because conditions in “safe” zones are also dire.

QURANCORNER

Each day, you’ll be introduced to one of the 300 most common Qur’anic words. The Qur’an has about 77,430 words in total, all built on just 2,000 root words. By learning these frequently recurring ones, you’ll recognize 70–80% of the Qur’an’s vocabulary and begin connecting more deeply as you read.

Ash-Shayṭān (ٱلشَّيْطَان) - The Satan

A name that stirs warning. Ash-Shayṭān comes from a root meaning “to be distant” or “to burn with pride.” He is the one who distanced himself from mercy, consumed by arrogance and rebellion. His whispers are subtle, but his mission is loud: to pull hearts away from light and truth. Yet with every remembrance, every sincere turn to Allah, his grip weakens.