Page 89 - Answers from the Qur'an

HARUN YAHYA - ADNAN OKTAR
acts" (Surah Yusuf, 53). And because the self commands to evil
acts, people have to be vigilant against its wrong inculcations.
New Muslims will surely be more inclined to listen to the
commands from their lower selves that will lead them to evil.
This lower self draws one towards obeying personal whims and
desires and draws one away from religious morality. Against all
of the rights communicated by Muslims and the ones related in
the Qur'an, the lower self will try to infect each new Muslim with
many unfounded concerns and doubts. While their conscience
and intelligence will command them to be with believers, their
lower self will encourage them to remain with their former ac-
quaintances.
For this reason, new Muslims who are seeking to learn the re-
ligion have to control their attitudes and examine their wishes to
see whether their acts and attitudes are commanded by personal
whims or conscience.

Pretexts of the Lower Self
Adopting some basic criteria as to "whether certain acts and
attitudes stem from one's lower self or conscience" will enable us
to distinguish these two sources more clearly. One verse pro-
vides us with some important criteria, as follows:
Restrain yourself patiently with those who call on their
Lord morning and evening, desiring His face. Do not turn
your eyes from them, desiring the attractions of this
world. And do not obey someone whose heart We have
made neglectful of Our remembrance, and who follows
his own whims and desires, and whose life has trans-
gressed all bounds. (Surat al-Kahf, 28)
This verse informs believers about those acts that comply
with Allah's good pleasure and those that stem from one's lower

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