The Meaning of (We Seek Refuge in Allah from the Evils of Our Own Selves)
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The Shaykh : We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our own selves. "We seek refuge" means: we take hold of Allah for protection from the evils of our own selves. Our question now is: Is there evil in the self? The answer is: Yes, there is evil in the self. Allah the Exalted said: [Yusuf 12:53] The selves are three: the evil self, which is the one that incites to evil; the good self, which is the tranquil one that commands good; and the self-reproaching self. All of them are mentioned in the Qur'an.
The evil self: the one that commands evil. In which surah is it mentioned? In Surat Yusuf:[Yusuf 12:53].
The tranquil, good self: the one that commands good. In which surah is it mentioned? In Surat al-Fajr:[Al-Fajr 89:27-30].
The self-reproaching self: it is mentioned in Surat al-Qiyamah:[Al-Qiyamah 75:1-2]
Is the self that blames itself (al-nafs al-lawwamah) distinct from the two selves, the good and the evil, or is it the two selves? Some scholars say: "It is a third self, while others say rather that it is a description of the two aforementioned selves." For example, when does the good self blame you? When you do evil or neglect an obligatory duty, it blames you. When does the evil self blame you? When you do good or avoid a forbidden act, it blames you, saying, "Why do you restrict yourself? Why do you not free yourself? Why do you not do whatever you want?" This is what the self that commands evil says. As for the good self, it blames when one does evil and leaves off good, and the self that commands evil is the opposite. In any case, whether it is a third self or a description of the two selves, the one that commands evil and the one that is at peace, the evil self has a sign. What is its sign? Its sign is that it commands you to do evil: it commands you to lie, to backbite, to cheat, to steal, to commit unlawful sexual intercourse, and to drink intoxicants. Which self is this? The evil one that commands evil. The good self is the opposite; it commands you to do good: to pray, to remember Allah, to read the Qur'an, to give charity, and to do other things that bring one closer to Allah. We all find within our souls a struggle between these two selves, and the successful one is the one whom Allah protects and safeguards from the evil of his own self. For this reason, we say, "We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our souls." Indeed, there is evil in our souls; if Allah does not protect you from the evil of your own self, you will perish.[Yusuf 12:53]
And I do not acquit myself. Indeed, the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil, except those upon which my Lord has mercy
وَمَا أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِي إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّيThe evil self: the one that commands evil. In which surah is it mentioned? In Surat Yusuf:
And I do not acquit myself. Indeed, the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil
وَمَا أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِي إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِThe tranquil, good self: the one that commands good. In which surah is it mentioned? In Surat al-Fajr:
(27) [To the righteous it will be said], "O reassured soul, (28) Return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], (29) And enter among My [righteous] servants (30) And enter My Paradise."
يَاأَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ ارْجِعِي إِلَى رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَرْضِيَّةً فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي وَادْخُلِي جَنَّتِيThe self-reproaching self: it is mentioned in Surat al-Qiyamah:
(1) I swear by the Day of Resurrection (2) And I swear by the reproaching soul [to the certainty of resurrection].
لَا أُقْسِمُ بِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَةِIs the self that blames itself (al-nafs al-lawwamah) distinct from the two selves, the good and the evil, or is it the two selves? Some scholars say: "It is a third self, while others say rather that it is a description of the two aforementioned selves." For example, when does the good self blame you? When you do evil or neglect an obligatory duty, it blames you. When does the evil self blame you? When you do good or avoid a forbidden act, it blames you, saying, "Why do you restrict yourself? Why do you not free yourself? Why do you not do whatever you want?" This is what the self that commands evil says. As for the good self, it blames when one does evil and leaves off good, and the self that commands evil is the opposite. In any case, whether it is a third self or a description of the two selves, the one that commands evil and the one that is at peace, the evil self has a sign. What is its sign? Its sign is that it commands you to do evil: it commands you to lie, to backbite, to cheat, to steal, to commit unlawful sexual intercourse, and to drink intoxicants. Which self is this? The evil one that commands evil. The good self is the opposite; it commands you to do good: to pray, to remember Allah, to read the Qur'an, to give charity, and to do other things that bring one closer to Allah. We all find within our souls a struggle between these two selves, and the successful one is the one whom Allah protects and safeguards from the evil of his own self. For this reason, we say, "We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our souls." Indeed, there is evil in our souls; if Allah does not protect you from the evil of your own self, you will perish.