THIRD REMINDER. Yaumul Jumuat, 11th day of Shaãban (27th April). JIHAAD AGAINST THE SOUL FIRST NOT INNOCENT PEOPLE. BismilLaahir Rahmaanir Raheem. Let's continue from the first/second Reminder, please request for a copy if you missed any. Great scholars of Islam wrote pages and pages about the jihad against the soul and methods of purifying the heart, such as Ibn Al-Jawzi, Ibn Al-Qayyim, and Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali. Scholars often referred to this spiritual struggle as the “greater jihad,” because it takes precedence over any outward physical struggle we endure. Ibn Taymiyyah said: جِهَادُ النَّفْسِ وَالْهَوَى أَصْلُ جِهَادِ الْكُفَّارِ وَالْمُنَافِقِينَ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى جِهَادِهِمْ حَتَّى يُجَاهِدَ نَفْسَهُ وَهَوَاهُ أَوَّلًا حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ إلَيْهِمْ Jihad of the soul against desire is the foundation of jihad against unbelievers and hypocrites, for a Muslim cannot wage jihad against them unless he has first waged jihad against his soul and desires before he goes out against them. Source: Rawdat Al-Muhibeen 1/478. Furthermore, armed jihad against an external enemy has conditions and limits and not every Muslim needs to perform it, yet the internal jihad against the soul must be practiced by everyone. A just armed jihad cannot be waged by people whose hearts and minds are defiled by hatred and who are ignorant of Islam’s moral teachings. As such, Allah has commanded the believers to appoint scholars to teach those who perform military service so as to prevent them from transgressing on the battlefield. Allah says: It is not for the believers to go forth in battle all at once. For there should separate from every division of them a group to obtain understanding in the religion and to warn their people when they return to them that they might be cautious. Surat At-Tawba 9:122 Therefore, the jihad against the soul must be practiced by all of us on a daily basis. We must struggle to purify our hearts from all spiritual diseases that lead to transgression and sin, for only in this way can our external struggles be made just and upright. Please note that we cannot fight any non Muslims unless to defend ourselves from their attack or stopping us from our worship. Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best. May ALLAH keep guiding us all and increases us in beneficial knowledge. Aameen.