What is the toughest battle you have ever fought?
The battle I am fighting every waking moment of my life, the battle against the self.
Why is that the toughest battle?
The battle only stops when your asleep and the injuries you attain in this battle need to be treated immediately, otherwise they will be treated via the flames of hell.
What injuries are they?
Pride, pretending virtuousness, nationalism, envy, anger and backbiting.
What is the worst of these injuries?
Pride.
Why?
Pride is self admiration which is the worship of the self.
How do you know you have it?
Be wary if you do not continually ask yourself if you have it, regardless of your level of knowledge and spirituality. Remember the Shaytan was the best of worshippers yet it was his pride that was the cause of his downfall.
How do you treat these injuries?
With the weapons Allah has bestowed with us, one of which is my most prized.
What weapon is that?
It is my will, my resolve.
Why is that your most prized weapon?
Without will, I am unable to raise my other weapons.
What weapons are those?
My sincerity, my patience and my repentance.
Why is sincerity important?
My other weapons will have no effect without sincerity.
Why is patience important?
I pray this answer reaches those who have lost hope or are about to lose hope. I pray that they continue with their good deeds and that they continue to endure their hardships and I pray they do these things without expecting immediate reward. I pray they do this and that they hang on, even if their efforts go unrewarded till their deaths. O please hang on you blessed souls, as Allah looks upon you well pleased, for do you know, if He were to immediately reward those who performed righteous acts or experienced hardships, then they would no longer be superior to the wicked? For remember the wicked perform evil for immediate rewards. So be not like them and hang on, be patient as you are the warriors of Karbala, continue your noble fight, for you are loved by Allah.
Why is repentance important?
Some think that they have made too many mistakes in this battle to be able to stand back up. They think it is now too shameful to expect forgiveness. They are the ones now who are chained to self pity. They have abandoned us when we need them the most. Now there state is difficult to see. They have become wilful spectators of the battle between virtue and vice. They are no use to us anymore which is why they reluctantly wave the flag of vice with heads bowed in shame. I say to them what the most righteous servants of Allah has said, that is, Allah loves those who have sinned yet are sad and repentant then he does those who do a good deed yet are proud and arrogant. O sinful soul, do you see how repentance breaks the chains of self pity? Do you see how it invites you back to the battle? Do you see there is still hope. Do not decline this invitation for it is an invitation from Allah.
If we ask Allah to win us this war, will our success be gauranteed?
Asking alone is not enough as Allah helps those who helps themselves. This way, if we do win, then we share some of the responsibility of our success. This is a testament to the Benevolence of Allah.
Any final advice?
Discomfort the self.
What do you mean?
The struggle against the self has not begun if the self feels no pain, for there can be no struggle without pain. This pain is vital for your comfort.
How does one feel pain yet comfort at the same time?
There is no sweeter comfort than to do what is right.
said...