THE EGO AS A DRUG 

I’m writing this article from a Khutba given a while ago by brother Faiz. It struck me as an excellent way to look at the concept of killing our egos, and something I hadn’t really considered. But if we look at our ego as a mind-altering drug, just like alcohol and cocaine, it may help us find the strength and the tools to conquer it.

One of the first commandments God places in the Quran is in 2:54.

…You must repent to your Creator. You shall kill your egos. This is better for you in the sight of your Creator. God tells us we must kill our egos. Yet in society today, we are encouraged to have a healthy ego. That it’s good for us. Society says the same for alcohol—having a glass or two of wine is good for the heart. But it’s not the wine that’s healthy; it’s a chemical in the skin and seeds of the grapes. We’d do much better to eat a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, and stay away from the intoxicants. God acknowledges that there may be some benefit in intoxicants in 2:219 but He cautions: their sinfulness far outweighs their benefit.

It’s the same with our ego. It is healthy to have some confidence as we face the challenges in our lives. But like drugs and alcohol, the ego alters reality. We quickly lose sight of the source of our confidence and begin to think that we ourselves are creating things and accomplishing things, instead of remembering that everything comes from God. Before long, we can drop God out of the equation altogether. We begin to see ourselves as clever and talented and wise. Then we begin to see ourselves as cleverer and more talented than another person and wiser than everyone else. We feel superior. And if you’re superior what need have you for God?

As with intoxicants and gambling, Satan uses the ego as a means of division and strife, and worse, a way to draw us away from God.

[5:91]  The devil wants to provoke animosity and hatred among you through intoxicants and gambling, and to distract you from remembering GOD, and from observing the Contact Prayers (Salat). Will you then refrain?

In order to resist the attraction of alcohol, an alcoholic will often turn to an agency with a proven track-record helping alcoholics, like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). He/she will use their resources, read the literature, go to meetings for support, and learn the skills needed to stay away from the poison.

We are all “egoholics.” Our ego got us in trouble in our first life when we first failed to stand up for God against Satan and then refused to submit and come to earth as a dog or a tree or a slug. So the first step to recovery is admitting the problem. In AA, they stand up and say, “My name is …. and I’m an alcoholic.” Everyone in the room acknowledges the person and understands where they’re coming from. They all have the same problem. Well, my name is Lydia, and I’m an egoholic. What can I do to recover?

God has provided an abundance of tools for us to use in our fight to kill our egos. He doesn’t just tell us to kill it and then leave us on our own.

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