Restraint…

All praises are due to Allaah and peace and blessings, be

upon His prophet Muhammad and his family and companions

Allaah, the Almighty created the human Nafs (self or soul) with two main strengths,

which are: the strength of advancement and the strength of restraint. The strength of

advancement must be directed to the things that are of benefit to the person in this life and

the Hereafter. As for the strength of restraint, this must be used to abstain from

what harms the person. The Muslim should naturally be disposed to advance in good and

restrain from evil. This restraint is like a rein that holds the Muslim back from all

evil.

Therefore, restraint is the Muslim's curb which prevents him from committing or indulging in

evil, sins and non-beneficial matters. The stronger the restraint is, the better the Muslim

can oppose his forbidden desires, temptations and trials. Some people have patience

with the discomfort of worship but have no patience when it comes to avoiding sins, and vice

versa.

For example, many people have the patience to stand in night prayers in the cold and

heat, and have patience with the discomfort of fasting, but do not have the patience to restrain

themselves from gazing at what is forbidden. Many other people have the patience to restrain

from indulging in the forbidden gaze, but do not have the patience to enjoin good and

forbid evil or to combat the disbelievers and hypocrites. 1 However, the best people are the ones who have patience with both

categories.