Methods to weaken the Nafs

[Colonel_Hardstone]

Asslamo Allaikum,

I would like to request others to post methods and ways from Mashaykh to help weaken the Nafs.

If you are planning on posting a link to a Bayan/Article, please post the Summary and then the link as it will help save time.

[abdlashay]

Asslamo Allaikum,

I would like to request others to post methods and ways from Mashaykh to help weaken the Nafs.

wa alaykum as salam

Hakeem ul-Ummat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi qadas sirrahu stated that the only way to do this is by firm and active determination (himmat). Acting repeatedly against the vile desires of nafs will weaken it eventually.

The dua, wird, wazifa, muraqaba, company of the pious, reading or listening of motivating text and bayan, etc. will aid in developing this determination. But active effort to resist the desires of the nafs by himmat is essential for them to be effective.

Apparently this seems to be to difficult.However, this is the ONLY way. Not recognizing this up front is a very common mistake.

This is the mujahida.
This is the jihad e akbar.

Possible with Allah's tawfiq!

[Colonel_Hardstone]

wa alaykum as salam

Hakeem ul-Ummat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi qadas sirrahu stated that the only way to do this is by firm and active determination (himmat). Acting repeatedly against the vile desires of nafs will weaken it eventually.

The dua, wird, wazifa, muraqaba, company of the pious, reading or listening of motivating text and bayan, etc. will aid in developing this determination. But active effort to resist the desires of the nafs by himmat is essential for them to be effective.

Apparently this seems to be to difficult.However, this is the ONLY way. Not recognizing this up front is a very common mistake.

This is the mujahida.
This is the jihad e akbar.

Possible with Allah's tawfiq!

Brother,

Would other Brothers/Sisters also add to what their Mashaykh have to say about the subject?

[suleimanibnsalim]

Putting the world in context with the akhirah

1 over infinity

[habibati]

"la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah "

I have found this to be extremely effective, I can feel the desires draining away.

[Tazkiyah]

BismillahirRahmanirRaheem

Fasting and Reflecting on death. As for fasting it is the easiest way to subdue the nafs providing you don't pig out when you eat or start the fast and relflecting on death in a tashahud position without moving any body parts etc and in visioning your death how you will go .. where to.. how the angel of death will pull your soul .. your burial the questions of munkar and nakeer etc. If this is done once or even 5 times per day right b4 salah its virtually impossible to sin or atleast have the courage not to sin.

[GenN]

Al-Ghazali On Disciplining the Soul and Breaking the Two Desires

If i remember correctly from the above book one of he fundamental methods is eat less, a lot less. Hunger has 10 benefits mentioned by Al ghazali in the above book.

There is nothing quite like fasting to discipline the soul. If I can I will read up some of the stuff again in the book and mention short points. But I recommend anyone to buy the book if they are interested in disciplining their souls.

[sudoku]

"la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah "

I have found this to be extremely effective, I can feel the desires draining away.

Agree! In fact I started reading it continuously( especially when stressed/depressed) when I read about it in one of br Muadh's post (link in the text in my sig).

As for the original question, muraqabah helps me, as well as constant dhikr of Allah and istighfaar. I try to control my thoughts, and if some weird thoughts come, or even some tune of a song I heard in the store, I start reciting istighfaar in my head. When I get upset or annoyed, I try to recite Isti'aadha.

Also, one thing that has been helping me lately speaking forum-wise will be that when I feel like answering a post that may have hurt my ego, I stop myself from doing so.

Last but not least, remembering that nothing except Allah and that which Allah loves is worth arguing or 'wasting' time over. (because it's never wasting time when it is for the sake of Allah!)

Wassalaam

[Colonel_Hardstone]

Subhanullah!

Reading La Hawla Wala Quwatta works wonders

I have also tested it again and again and again.

http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/show...9&postcount=13

[ummsara]

One of the very initial guidances our Shaykh gave us during our student days ( we were 15-16 years old) was to refuse/deny ourselves whenever we had the urge or desire to eat a chocolate or crisps etc.This was addressing us as students who whenever we 'felt like' eating chocolate etc. could just simply buy and eat it. Not as easy as it sounds at that age! It also made us reflect inwards and think about the nafs and actually develop a degree of control over 'it'. Try it now when you really feel like eating something!