Imam 'Ali (AS) relates, 'The Prophet (SAWA) dispatched troops [to a mission]. On seeing the returning armies from the battlefront, he said, 'Blessed are those who have performed the lesser jihad, and have yet to perform the greater one.' When asked, ?O Messenger of Allah, what is the greater jihad?' the Prophet replied, 'The jihad of the self, and added, 'The best jihad is that of one who combats his own self that is between his two sides.?