Tradition

مَنْ هانَتْ عَلَيْهِ نَفْسُهُ فَلا تَأْمَنْ شَرَّهُ

Imam Hasan al-’Askari (‘a) is narrated to have said: “The strongest warrior is he who stops sinning.”1

Brief Commentary

In Islam, the battle against our negative desires and lusts (which are the main root of various sins) is called the Greater Jihad. Such a fight is considered to be more important than the fight against one’s enemies. This is because such a fight is the means to self-purification, and until self-purification has taken place, victory over one’s enemies is also not possible. This is because defeat against one’s enemies is usually the result of personal weaknesses due to this lack of character and self-purification.

The value of this battle is much greater in a society that is filled with corruption and it will yield much clearer results. The victory of the Prophet (S) in the city of Medina was a direct result of the internal battles and character building that took place for the companions while they were in the city of Mecca.

• 1. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 78, p. 383.