The greater jihad is proclaiming war on our ego's destructive

The Turkish scholar and spiritual guide Fethullah Gulen declared with luminous clarity: “The greater jihad is proclaiming war on our ego’s destructive and negative emotions and thoughts... which prevent us from attaining perfection.” In these words, he draws upon the ancient well of Islamic teaching, reminding us that the greatest battlefield is not the desert nor the plain, but the hidden realm of the heart. For armies may conquer kingdoms, but only those who conquer themselves can taste true freedom.

The origin of this teaching lies in the spiritual traditions of Islam, where scholars have long distinguished between the “lesser jihad” of outward struggle and the “greater jihad” of inner striving. The Prophet Muhammad himself is said to have told his companions, returning from battle, that the greater struggle lay not in wielding the sword, but in resisting the tyranny of the self. Gulen, echoing this timeless wisdom, calls us to recognize that the enemies within—anger, greed, envy, arrogance—are more dangerous than any foe beyond the gates.

Consider the fate of mighty conquerors who subdued nations yet fell before their own egos. Alexander the Great ruled from Greece to India, yet his pride, his drunken rage, and his unchecked passions brought strife to his empire and an early death to his life. He subdued kingdoms but not his own desires. Or recall emperors of Rome, whose armies swept across the known world, yet who were undone by vanity, cruelty, or indulgence. These stories confirm Gulen’s words: the war against the self is the truest and hardest jihad, for all external victories are hollow if the heart remains enslaved.

The lesson is not only for kings and generals but for each of us. Every day, destructive thoughts and emotions rise within us—anger that poisons our words, envy that rots our contentment, fear that paralyzes our action. These are the enemies that prevent us from reaching perfection, from living as we are meant to live. To engage in the greater jihad is to confront them with courage, to strip away excuses, and to train the soul as a warrior trains the body—through discipline, vigilance, and relentless striving.

History also gives us examples of those who triumphed in this higher war. Mahatma Gandhi, though he led millions in the struggle against British rule, often spoke of the battle within himself: to master anger, to purify motives, to resist hatred even in the face of injustice. His true greatness lay not in his marches or his speeches, but in his conquest of bitterness, his ability to remain gentle while facing oppression. Gandhi’s life shows how victory in the greater jihad gives strength for all other struggles.

The deeper meaning of Gulen’s words is this: the path to perfection is not found in wealth, power, or conquest, but in purification of the self. To proclaim war on the ego is to recognize that within us lies both a tyrant and a servant, both shadow and light. The tyrant whispers destruction, but the servant seeks God and goodness. The greater jihad is to silence the tyrant, to feed the servant, until the soul is free to reflect truth, compassion, and peace.

Therefore, let this wisdom endure: wage the greater jihad daily, not with swords, but with patience, humility, and vigilance. When anger rises, answer with calm. When envy stirs, remember gratitude. When arrogance tempts, bow to humility. These are the victories that lead to lasting freedom. For the wars of nations pass, but the war within is eternal. And only those who triumph over the self will find the perfection of peace, becoming lights to guide generations yet to come.