“Indeed, a true believer tires out their devils—just as you exhaust your camels during a journey—by resisting the desires of the self and fulfilling the commands of God.” 1
Every human, who carries the inclinations of the self (nafs), is constantly faced with a choice between following their own desires or the will of God in every aspect of life. In front of every individual, there stand the seemingly sweet and attractive desires of the self, which ultimately lead to regret and bitterness. A true believer, with the insight, wisdom, and discernment that faith provides, strives to see beyond the surface of these desires and acts accordingly, in line with the commands and prohibitions of their Lord.
In the hadith above, the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) beautifully illustrates how a person tires out their self (or their devil) by performing acts of worship and abandoning sinful desires. He compares this to a person tiring out their camel during a long journey—a vivid analogy to emphasize the struggle involved. A true believer is not someone who seeks ease and comfort. Instead, they are constantly active, moving from one good deed to another, from one act of worship to the next, always striving in the circle of virtuous actions that bring about positive outcomes.
By living this way, they do not allow their self to rest, because when left idle, the self tends to incline towards evil. Perhaps those who have reached a certain spiritual level can even hear the tired sighs of their own self, worn out by their constant striving.
This hadith carries the same meaning: “A true believer is one whose self is in difficulty (i.e., they constantly strive against their own desires), while others find peace from them.”2 Indeed, a believer should act like a prosecutor against themselves but like a defender when it comes to others. In a similar vein, the respected Abu Bakr said: “Whoever angers their self in the pursuit of God’s pleasure, God will protect them from His wrath.” 3
Those who can resist the desires of the self are spiritual people. Here is a description of a spiritual person: “A spiritual person is one who integrates matter and meaning within themselves, always following the level of life in their heart and soul. They do not get entangled in the superficial beauty of the path to hell but endure the hardships of the path to paradise, striving to preserve their connection with the Divine. Unlike the physical person, who spends their life pursuing material desires and indulging in the cravings of the self, the spiritual person deepens through knowledge, discovers the secret of rising through faith, and experiences and lives with the heavenly pleasures in their heart.” 4
Selcuk Camcı
Selçuk Camcı graduated from the Faculty of Theology in 1992. He completed his master’s degree in the field of Hadith Studies and is currently a doctoral student in Islamic Law. Camcı has worked as an editor for religious publications, including Yeni Ümit magazine. He also received training in chaplaincy (spiritual guidance) in the United States.
Footnotes:
1.Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, 2/380.
2.Ali al-Muttaqi, Kanz al-Ummal, 1/151.
3.Ali al-Muttaqi, Kanz al-Ummal, 2/162.
4.Fethullah Gülen, Prizma 4, p. 277.