Nafs (نَفْس)is an Arabic word which occurs in the Qur'an and means self, psyche,[1] ego or soul. In its unrefined state, "the ego (nafs) is the lowest dimension of man's inward existence, his animal and satanic nature.
Nafs is an important concept in the Islamic tradition.
Traditio states it is a little black spot on the area where the person's heart is and it is mentioned in the hadith that Prophet Muhammad PBUH had this spot removed.
Three principal stages of nafs
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There are three principal stages of nafs which are specifically mentioned in the Qur'an. They are stages in the process of development, refinement and mastery of the nafs
The inciting nafs (nafs-i-ammara)
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In its primitive stage the nafs incites us to commit evil: this is the nafs as the lower self, the base instincts.[5] In the eponymous Sura of the Qur'an, Yusuf says "Yet I claim not that my nafs was innocent: Verily the nafs incites to evil."[Quran 12:53]
Islam emphasises the importance of fighting nafs. One such tradition holds that Muhammad said after returning from a war, "We now return from the small struggle (Jihad Asghar) to the big struggle (Jihad Akbar)". His companions asked, "Oh prophet of God, what is the big struggle?" He replied, "The struggle against nafs."[6]
The Qur'an enjoins the faithful "to hinder the nafs from lust",[Quran 79:40] and another hadith warns that "the worst enemy you have is [the nafs] between your sides."[7] Rumi warns of the nafs in its guise of religious hypocrisy, saying "the nafs has a rosary and a Koran in its right hand, and a scimitar and dagger in the sleeve."[8]
Animal imagery is often used to describe the nafs. A popular image is a donkey or unruly horse that must be trained and broken so that eventually it will bear its rider to the goal.[9] Rumicompares the nafs to a camel which the hero Majnun, representing the intellect ('Aql), strains to turn in the direction of the dwelling-place of his beloved
.[8]
The self-accusing nafs (nafs-i-lawwama)
In Sura al-Qiyama the Qur'an mentions "the self-accusing nafs".[Quran 75:2] This is the stage where "the conscience is awakened and the self accuses one for listening to one’s ego. One repents and asks for forgiveness."[10] Here the nafs is inspired by your heart, sees the results of your actions, agrees with your brain, sees your weaknesses, and aspires to perfection.
The nafs at peace (nafs-i-mutma'inna)
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In Sura al-Fajr the Qur'an mentions "the nafs at peace".[Quran 89:27] This is the ideal stage of ego for Muslims. On this level one is firm in one’s faith and leaves bad manners behind.[10] The soul becomes tranquil, at peace.[10] At this stage, followers of Sufism have relieved themselves of all materialism and worldly problems and are satisfied with the will of God.
Nafs is an important concept in the Islamic tradition.
Traditio states it is a little black spot on the area where the person's heart is and it is mentioned in the hadith that Prophet Muhammad PBUH had this spot removed.
Three principal stages of nafs
[ltr]
[/ltr]
There are three principal stages of nafs which are specifically mentioned in the Qur'an. They are stages in the process of development, refinement and mastery of the nafs
The inciting nafs (nafs-i-ammara)
[ltr]
[/ltr]
In its primitive stage the nafs incites us to commit evil: this is the nafs as the lower self, the base instincts.[5] In the eponymous Sura of the Qur'an, Yusuf says "Yet I claim not that my nafs was innocent: Verily the nafs incites to evil."[Quran 12:53]
Islam emphasises the importance of fighting nafs. One such tradition holds that Muhammad said after returning from a war, "We now return from the small struggle (Jihad Asghar) to the big struggle (Jihad Akbar)". His companions asked, "Oh prophet of God, what is the big struggle?" He replied, "The struggle against nafs."[6]
The Qur'an enjoins the faithful "to hinder the nafs from lust",[Quran 79:40] and another hadith warns that "the worst enemy you have is [the nafs] between your sides."[7] Rumi warns of the nafs in its guise of religious hypocrisy, saying "the nafs has a rosary and a Koran in its right hand, and a scimitar and dagger in the sleeve."[8]
Animal imagery is often used to describe the nafs. A popular image is a donkey or unruly horse that must be trained and broken so that eventually it will bear its rider to the goal.[9] Rumicompares the nafs to a camel which the hero Majnun, representing the intellect ('Aql), strains to turn in the direction of the dwelling-place of his beloved
.[8]
The self-accusing nafs (nafs-i-lawwama)
In Sura al-Qiyama the Qur'an mentions "the self-accusing nafs".[Quran 75:2] This is the stage where "the conscience is awakened and the self accuses one for listening to one’s ego. One repents and asks for forgiveness."[10] Here the nafs is inspired by your heart, sees the results of your actions, agrees with your brain, sees your weaknesses, and aspires to perfection.
The nafs at peace (nafs-i-mutma'inna)
[ltr][/ltr]
In Sura al-Fajr the Qur'an mentions "the nafs at peace".[Quran 89:27] This is the ideal stage of ego for Muslims. On this level one is firm in one’s faith and leaves bad manners behind.[10] The soul becomes tranquil, at peace.[10] At this stage, followers of Sufism have relieved themselves of all materialism and worldly problems and are satisfied with the will of God.