`Nafs` refers to the self or the soul * The concept of Nafs is intricate and can refer to various dimensions of the human psyche (*Desires*, *Ego*, *Consciousness*, *The spiritual self*, *etc.*) # Three Stages of the Nafs The journey of the Nafs from its lower to higher states is central to the spiritual life in Islam, emphasizing constant self-evaluation and striving for moral and spiritual perfection. ## Nafs al-Ammara Bissu' (The Inciting Nafs) The `Inciting Nafs` is the lowest level of the soul where it commands one to indulge in selfish desires and leads one away from what is right > "Indeed the nafs is a persistent enjoiner of evil" (Quran 12:53) ## Nafs al-Lawwama (The Self-Reproaching Nafs) The `Self-Reproaching Nafs` is the intermediate stage of the soul where the individual becomes conscious of their imperfections and feels guilt and remorse when doing wrong * This stage reflects a higher level of spiritual awareness and moral conscience, as mentioned in Quran 75:2 >"And I swear by the self-reproaching person" (Quran 75:2) ## Nafs al Mutma'inna (The Satisfied Nafs) The `Satisfied Nafs` is the highest state of the soul that is achieved by true believers who are at peace through their complete submission to Allah's will * Described in Quran 89:27-30 >"O reassured soul, return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing [to Him], and enter among My [righteous] servants and enter My Paradise" (Quran 89:27-30) # Surahs ## Surah Al-Hashr, Quran 59:18 My dear brothers and sisters, it was a saying of the elders of the scholars attributed to the Prophet. >من عرف نفسه فقد عرف ربه > _Man arafah nafsahu man arafah rabbahu_ > The one who knows themselves, knows their Lord. **Part of knowing Allah is knowing our own selves.** What are the values and principles that we live by? What are the factors that go into every decision that we make? It’s so important for us to understand ourselves so that we don’t get lost with everything that happens. It’s easy to be good when times are good. But when there are calamitous times, when there are tragedies, when there are difficult times, then that’s when the metal is tested. That’s when the true self comes forth. Allah tells us: > يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ >_Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo ittaqoo Allaha waltanthur nafsun ma qaddamat lighadin wa**i**ttaqoo Allaha inna Allaha khabeerun bima taAAmaloon**a**_ > O you who have believed, fear Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow – and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do. ## Surah Al-Hashr, Quran 59:19 He says be mindful of Allah, and **every _nafs_, every self** should search for what they will bring forward on the Day of Judgment. Be mindful of Allah because he knows what you will do. He is well-informed of everything that you do. > وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ نَسُوا اللَّهَ فَأَنسَاهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ >_Wala takoonoo ka**a**llatheena nasoo Allaha faansahum anfusahum olaika humu alfasiqoon**a**_ >And don’t be like those who forgot Allah and as a result, they forgot themselves. # Sources [The Meaning of Nafs | Quranic Arabic for Busy People](https://www.getquranic.com/the-meaning-of-nafs/)