The Necessity of Inner Struggle
Al-Ghazali’s works teach that the greatest obstacle in humanity’s journey towards moral maturity is the self (nafs). The nafs is inherent within human nature and the source of worldly desires and cravings. According to al-Ghazali, dominating, controlling, and educating this self is a prerequisite for truly attaining divine love and moral virtues. Without disciplining the self, we will succumb to world ambitions and be unable to see the truth; because the nafs darkens our hearts and leads us astray. Therefore, the discipline of the nafs is the first step in the Sufi journey.
Controlling the Self with Patience and Gratitude
Al-Ghazali emphasizes the critical role of patience (sabr) and gratitude (shukr) in controlling the self. Patience is resistance to worldly hardships and difficulties; gratitude is responding to Allah’s blessings with thankfulness. While our selves constantly encourage us towards ease and the pursuit of pleasure, we can overcome these bad habits through patience and gratitude. Patience helps us suppress the desires of the nafs; gratitude helps us reduce our world ambitions by focusing on blessings. By internalizing these two virtues, we can prevent our selves from leading us astray.
Seeing the Truth and Moral Ascent
Al-Ghazali’s teachings state that disciplining the self is not only essential for personal development but also for seeing the truth and achieving moral ascent. Through domination of the nafs, our hearts are purified, our worldly ambitions decrease, and we draw closer to Allah. This molds us with divine love, leading us to the most beautiful form of being human. Al-Ghazali’s emphasis on disciplining the self offers us a roadmap for morality while also whispering the key to attaining inner richness and finding true happiness.