JIHAD BIL-NAFS: THE INNER BATTLEFIELD OF FAITH, PURIFICATION, AND SPIRITUAL RESISTANCE IN ISLAMIC AND SUFI THOUGHT

Abstract

This paper explores the profound Islamic concept of Jihad bil-Nafs (the struggle against the self) as the central axis of spiritual, moral, and psychological transformation in both Qur’anic teachings and Sufi thought. While the term jihad is often narrowly interpreted in contemporary discourse, this study emphasizes its inner dimension as the “greater jihad,” focusing on the purification of the soul (tazkiyah) and the refinement of the heart (qalb).

Drawing upon Qur’anic verses, Prophetic traditions, and classical Sufi scholarship, the paper examines the dynamic nature of the nafs through its stages — al-ammārah, al-lawwāmah, and al-muṭma’innah — highlighting the continuous struggle between divine guidance and human desire. The study further investigates the concept of the heart as a spiritual battlefield where light and darkness, remembrance and heedlessness, constantly interact.

In addition, this research situates Jihad bil-Nafs within contemporary psychological frameworks, presenting it as a model of self-regulation, ethical discipline, and emotional resilience. Special attention is given to the role of faith (īmān) as resistance against despair, oppression, and internal corruption, as well as the lived experiences of Muslim women whose spiritual endurance reflects a powerful dimension of inner jihad.

Through an integrative analysis of Islamic theology and Sufi metaphysics, this paper argues that Jihad bil-Nafs is not merely an abstract spiritual ideal but a practical, lifelong discipline that shapes moral character, strengthens faith, and fosters interfaith harmony and peaceful coexistence in a fragmented world.