Navigating the Nafs

The Nafs.

It is an inner child within us that seeks immediate gratification, constantly craving to fulfill its desires instantly.

In the fast-paced, fleeting world we live in, the voice of our inner self often seems louder than anything and everything else.

And if left unchecked, this Nafs of ours can make us detour off our spiritual journey, leading us to self-destruction.

But what's interesting is that we need this Nafs, this "riding beast" as we can call it, to guide us on our journey towards spiritual enlightenment.

It urges us to explore, to feel emotion, and ultimately to experience the human life Allah has blessed us with.

So, it's not about silencing or killing this inner self, but about training and controlling it.

Only then can we reach our destinations, our true homes, nurturing our spirit while navigating our material lives.

The trick here lies in incorporating 'Taqwa,' or God consciousness.

It’s placing Taqwa's “bridle” ( reigns) into the mouth of this figurative horse of desires.

It means training our inner selves to not act on impulse or give into unnecessary desires that contradict the principles of our faith.

The Sunnah teaches us to monitor the activities of five decisive body parts closely:

1. The Eyes

2. The Ears

3. The Tongue

4. The Stomach

5. The Heart

If we act responsibly with these five faculties, the rest of our being aligns, and we establish Taqwa in our lives.

The challenge here is that we often misuse these faculties.

We've been granted these intricate tools not just to perceive the surface world but to go beyond that and connect spiritually.

Every part of our body has a higher purpose that Allah created.

Appreciating and utilizing them for their true purpose elevates us closer to our Maker.

Going beyond the superficial value of our senses, we start to see more deeply, better comprehend, and connect more empathically.

Instead of merely hearing, we genuinely listen.

Instead of seeing, we gain insight.

Enriching the experiences of our human senses to attain Taqwa, God consciousness.

Our spiritual journey is about taking control of our Nafs, not just by suppressing our desires but by using our senses to explore ourselves and our purpose.