Imam Khomeini emphasizes that the struggle against the carnal self (jihad al-nafs) is a profound spiritual battle in which the forces of good and evil compete for control of the human soul, warning that its outcome determines one's eternal fate and spiritual elevation or degradation.
In his exposition of the first hadith in Forty Hadith, Imam Khomeini explains that the human soul inhabits not only the visible world but also the hidden realm, where the struggle between divine and satanic forces assumes greater significance. The conditions and actions of the external world are reflected in this inner realm, and whichever forces prevail in the human soul ultimately determine its spiritual destiny.
Imam Khomeini underscores the importance of jihad al-nafs as the source of human felicity or misery, spiritual elevation or degradation. He cautions that neglecting this struggle could allow satanic influences to dominate the heart and soul, resulting in an irreversible loss in the Hereafter.
He further warns that the consequences of divine wrath and spiritual separation are far more severe than the sufferings of this world. The heavens and hells associated with human deeds and moral conduct, he explains, extend beyond what human beings can perceive or comprehend in their earthly existence.
Imam Khomeini also highlights the importance of faith in spiritual realities that may remain beyond human understanding. He cautions against dismissing the teachings of religious scholars, mystics and spiritual authorities merely because they do not conform to one's personal reasoning or intellectual preferences. Such teachings may be rooted in the Qur'an, the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the infallible Imams (AS), even when their underlying evidence is unfamiliar to the listener.
He stresses that rejecting such teachings without adequate knowledge or examination may lead to serious spiritual consequences.
Addressing the believer, Imam Khomeini calls for vigilance, self-awareness and sincere efforts to overcome the carnal self. He urges individuals to seek divine assistance through humility, supplication and repentance, striving to liberate the heart from satanic influences and restore it to its rightful divine purpose.
Ultimately, Imam Khomeini presents the struggle against the self as a sacred spiritual undertaking through which the human soul can attain divine mercy, inner purification and eternal felicity. He emphasizes that the true bliss of divine proximity transcends all pleasures described in the accounts of Paradise, representing a spiritual reality beyond the comprehension and experience of ordinary human beings.
Source: Imam Khomeini, Forty Hadith, “The First Hadith: Jihad al-Nafs,” The Second Stage.