THE THREE STAGES OF NAFS IN ISLAM

A JOURNEY OF SPIRITUAL ASCENSION – by Nejoud Al-Yagout

What is the Nafs?• The ‘nafs’ is the self, the ego or the soul. Is it the same as the ‘ruh’ or spirit?• “..[T[he correct view, as … maintained by the vast majority of Muslim theologians

and endorsed by the scholars of ahl as-sunnah, is that the terms “nafs” and “rûh” are interchangeable. However, the term “nafs” is usually applies when the soul is inside the body, and the word “rûh” is used when the soul is apart from the body.”

• http://islamicstudies.islammessage.com/ResearchPaper.aspx?aid=959

• “They ask you about the Spirit. Say, "The Spirit comes by the command of my Lord. You have been given very little knowledge.” (17:85)

• The Quran mentions 3 stages of the ‘nafs’.

The First Stage of the Nafs

• Al-nafs al amarra bil su – the self that is inclined to evil. Let us take a quote from the Holy Quran:– “And yet, I am not trying to absolve myself: for, verily, man's inner self

does incite [him] to evil, and saved are only they upon whom my Sustainer bestows His grace. Behold, my Sustainer is much forgiving, a dispenser of grace!“ [Yusuf 12:53]

WORDS OF WISDOM

• There is a famous Cherokee proverb: A Cherokee grandfather sitting with his grandchildren told them, “In life there is a terrible fight- a fight between two wolves.

• One is evil: he is … anger, envy, greed, arrogance, self-pity, resentment, and deceit. The other is good: he is joy, serenity, humility, confidence, generosity, truth, gentleness, and compassion.”

• A child asked, “Grandfather, which wolf will win?” The elder looked him in the eye. “The one you feed”

We Are Not Alone

• Prophet Muhammad pbuh said that: "No one of you becomes a true believer until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself".

• [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

• When you notice the evil within, you can begin to ascend when you rectify it… Which takes us to the next stage…

The Second Stage of the Nafs

• One thing a person must realize is that – “…Verily, Allah will not change the condition of a people unless there is a change of

what is in themselves…” [Raad 13:11]

• Do not despair if others are inclined to evil. Allah swt told Prophet Muhammad pbuh in reference to his inability to revert his uncle who was dying – AbuTalib: – “Verily! You (O Muhammad ) guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills.

And He knows best those who are the guided”. [Al-Qasas 28:56]

• - "As for those who strive in Us, We surely guide them to Our paths, and lo! Allah is with the good doers." [Al-Ankabut 29:69]

• Al nafs al lawwama , which translates to the self-accusing soul. What does this mean? – Allah swt says in the Quran: “Nay, I swear by the

self-accusing soul.” [Al-Qiyammah 75:2].• This stage is where the Jihad al-nafs begins (the

struggle against one’s soul).

Are You Awake or Asleep?

• The Stage of the nafs al-lawwama is the stage of spiritual awakening and awareness.

• The believer may commit a sin but he/she feels guilty and fluctuates between right & wrong.

• Now then, which stage should we all aspire to reach?

The Third Stage of the Nafs

• So we can say that the:

– nafs al-ammara bil su is the earthly level, where the self is inclined to animalistic desires.

– The nafs al lawwama is the transition period of spiritual ascension (THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE MATERIAL AND THE SPIRITUAL)

– and the nafs al mutmaana is the level where the self has earned the pleasure of Allah and reached beyond earthly desires and in the realm of spirituality.

• The nafs al-mutmaana - THE TRANQUIL SOUL. What does Allah swt say about this stage in the Holy Quran?

• "O you Tranquil Soul, return to Your Lord, well pleased, and well-pleasing unto Him! Enter you, then, among My devotees! Enter you My Heaven!” [Al-Fajr 89:27-30]

THE BATTLE AGAINST ONESELF: WHY?

– IT IS FOR YOUR OWN BENEFIT– Allah says : "And whosoever strives, strives only

for himself, for lo! Allah is altogether independent of the universe.“ [Al-Ankabut 29:6]

– TO AVOID EVIL TOUCHING YOU– “Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allah, but

whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourselves…” [Surat Al-Nisa 4:79]

THE BATTLE AGAINST ONESELF: HOW?

• Fear Allah• Submit to Allah

– “Nay-whoever submits his whole self to Allah and is a doer of good―he will get his reward with his Lord; on such shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve”. [Al-Baqara 2:112]

• Ask Allah to guide you– Do not underestimate the power of dua.– “And indeed We have created man, and We know what his own self whispers to him. And We are nearer to

him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge). [Al-Qaf 50:16] • Performing good actions

– Outward submission can lead to inner submission. For example, fasting, praying and reading the Quran helps us become God-conscious which is the greatest weapon against the evil within us.

• Everything you need is in the Quran: “This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah.” – [Surat Baqara 2:2 ]

...continued

• Control Anger/Forgive– “Those who spend, whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger,

and pardon men;- for Allah loves those who do good.” [Imran: 3:133-134]• Be patient

– "…those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure!" [Az-Zumar 39:10]

– "O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer.Indeed, Allah is with the patient." [al-Baqara 2:153]

• Avoid major sins such as:– drinking, gambling, adultery, murder, theft, slander.

• Avoid minor sins such:– as lying, showing off, flirting, swearing, backbiting, slander

• Spend time with decent believers for we are influenced by one another.

Do you think you do not need to purify yourself?

• We have to acknowledge that we have all wronged ourselves.

– A beautiful quote from the Noble Quran: Our Lord! We have wronged our souls: “If You do not forgive us and bestow upon us Your mercy, then we shall certainly be from amongst the losers.” [ Al A’raf 7: 23] PROPHET ADAM

• In the Noble Quran, Allah swt talks of people whose – “..hearts have been sealed by the sins they have accumulated.” (Al-Mutaffifin

83:14). • The prophet Muhammad (pbuh) explains this verse in detail

• Allah is so forgiving, though, and so merciful He tells us: – Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do

not despair of the mercy of Allah . Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.“ [Al-Zumar 39:53]

Significance of the Purification of the Self:

• “By the Soul, and the proportion and order given to it;

And its enlightenment as to its wickedness and its righteousness.” [Al-Shams 91:7-8]– Allah has given us a moral compass. Use it. Guilt is a sign of

awakening.

• "Indeed, he succeeds who purifies his own self and

indeed he fails who corrupts his own self." [Al-Shams: 91:9-10].

LET US CLEAR OUR HEARTS – THE FIRST STEP IS TRYING

• Life’s paradox: We must lower ourselves to reach higher.

• There is a beautiful hadith about a man that the Prophet Muhammad pbuh kept saying was destined for paradise. – Abdullah bin Amr ibn Al-Aas (raa) found out it

was because every night before this man went to sleep he forgave everyone.

BE PREPARED. YOU ARE A SPIRITUAL WARRIOR

• We must recall where, in Surah Hashr: verse 9, Allah tells us that:

• “And those saved from the covetousness of their own souls,- they are the ones that achieve prosperity.”

But be prepared for a fight!

LET US RETURN TO OUR ORIGINAL STATE

• Remember, we are all born pure – it is our sins that make us impure.

• Prophet Muhammad pbuh said: “Righteousness is good character, and sin is whatever bothers you and you do not want people to know.” (Saheeh Muslim)

PARTING WORDS…• Yasmin Mogahed: “True freedom is freedom from the self not freedom of the self.”

• Gandhi: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” • • www.thedeenshow.com• • www.nakcollection.com• • www.halaltube.com• • www.yasminmogahed.com• Let us pray that Allah swt removes the evil within us and grants us the honor of being the nafs al mutmaana – the tranquil soul.