بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
الرَّحْمَـٰنِ
الرَّحِيمِ
الْمَلِكِ
الْقُدُّوسِ
السَّلَامِ
1446 - شَوَّال الْمُكَرَّم
الْمُؤْمِنِ
الْمُهَيْمِنِ
الْعَزِيزِ
الْجَبَّارُ
الْمُتَكَبِّرُ
L
O
A
D
I
N
G
Fajr
05:45 AM
✓
Asr
06:15 PM
Maghrib
07:46 PM
Isha
09:45 PM
Jumu'ah
02:00 PM
Nafs
النفس
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Nafs refers to the "Self," "Soul," or "Ego." In Islamic psychology, the Nafs has three stages: 1. Nafs al-Ammara (the soul that commands evil), 2. Nafs al-Lawwama (the self-reproaching soul that feels guilt), and 3. Nafs al-Mutma'inna (the soul at peace). The "Jihad al-Nafs" is the internal struggle to discipline the ego, moving it from being a slave to desires toward being a servant of Allah. It is the core of spiritual development (Tazkiyah). The Quran describes the nafs in its various states. The nafs al-ammara is the soul that inclines toward evil: "Indeed, the soul (nafs) commands evil, except that my Lord has mercy" (12:53). This is the state of the soul before purification, driven by base desires. The nafs al-lawwama is the self-reproaching soul: "I swear by the self-reproaching soul (nafs al-lawwama)" (75:2). This is the state of the soul that feels guilt after sin and strives to return to Allah. It is the state of the believer who sins but repents. The nafs al-mutma'inna is the soul at peace: "O soul at peace (nafs al-mutma'inna), return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing" (89:27-28). This is the state of the soul that has been purified, that finds contentment in Allah, and that is at peace with His decree. The goal of the spiritual path is to move from the nafs al-ammara to the nafs al-mutma'inna through the process of tazkiyah (purification). This involves: recognizing one's faults, repenting from sins, struggling against desires, increasing in worship, and cultivating good character. The Prophet said: "The greatest jihad is the struggle against one's own soul" (Ahmad). This inner struggle is ongoing; the nafs constantly tries to pull the believer toward sin. The believer resists through prayer, fasting, remembrance of Allah, and seeking refuge in Him. The nafs is also the seat of the intellect and will. It is what makes choices and is accountable for them. The Quran says: "By the soul (nafs) and He who proportioned it and inspired it with its wickedness and its righteousness" (91:7-8). This establishes that the nafs has the capacity for both good and evil, and it is responsible for its choices. For believers, understanding the nafs is essential for spiritual growth. They recognize its tendencies toward evil, they cultivate the self-reproaching conscience that leads to repentance, and they strive for the soul at peace that finds contentment in Allah. They engage in constant muhasabah (self-accounting), examining their intentions and actions, and seeking Allah's forgiveness for their shortcomings. The ultimate goal is for the nafs to return to Allah in a state of peace, purified and ready for Paradise. The believer strives for that state, knowing that it requires constant struggle and reliance on Allah's mercy. They trust that Allah, who inspired the nafs with its wickedness and righteousness, will help them overcome the former and attain the latter.
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