A: A person should strive against his soul to adhere to the Truth and holdfast to Tawbah. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says, And whosoever strives, he strives only for himself. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says: As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths (i.e. Allâh's religion Islâmic Monotheism). And verily, Allâh is with the Muhsinûn (good doers). The verse those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause) refers to those who strive against their souls, as well as against the disbelievers, the hypocrites, the disobedient persons, and Shaytan (Satan). This Ayah (Qur'anic verse) includes all kinds of Jihad (fighting/striving in the Cause of Allah) including striving against one's soul. Allah (Glorified be He) did not specify any kind of Jihad. The soul needs to be refined, taken care of, and directed to patience and Jihad. A poet said,
One's self longs for what a person wants; if it is directed to something, it heads to it desirably but when suppressed, it stops
One's self is always desirous when left unrestrained, but once it is turned down, it becomes satisfied.
Your self is like a baby when neglected it will grow with the desire to be breastfed but when you wean it, it complies
These three poetic verses depict the status of one's soul. A believer should strive with his soul until it remains steadfast on the Right Path and does not trespass the limits but abides by them; consequently Allah (Exalted be He) will guide him to the Right Path. A believer would be then from the good doers about whom Allah (Exalted be He) says, And verily, Allâh is with the Muhsinûn (good doers). Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says: Truly, Allâh is with those who fear Him (keep their duty unto Him), and those who are Muhsinûn (gooddoers. See the footenote of V.9:120).
May Allah grant us success!