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THE SOUL (NAFS)
The word “Nafs” or its
derivatives has been used in the
Glorious Qur’an 298 times. It is
a wide and broad topic, hence we
are concentrating on the Ayahs
7 to 10 of Surah ash-Shams which
says: “…and by the soul and that
(Power) Who designed it and
inspired it with knowledge of
evil and piety, those who purify
their souls will certainly have
everlasting happiness and those
who corrupt their souls will
certainly be deprived (of
happiness).”
In this Surah, the word “Nafs“
may be referred to for both body
and soul. And also the word
“Alahamaha” may be used in
Arabic for meaning drinking or
gulping, but some translators
believe that its root word is “Ilham”.
The person who receives “Ilham” does
not know the sender while in
case of “Wahi” or revelation,
the receiver knows the sender
and the messenger. In this
Surah, the All-Mighty Allah have
sworn on His other “Signs” like
sun, moon, day, night, sky, and
earth. Then He is swearing on
the soul or “Nafs” and Himself
Who designed it.
After acquiring the knowledge
about vice and virtue, it is
within the power of every soul
to protect it from sins and
vices, perform virtuous deeds
and develop his Nafs to the
zenith of piety.
Human beings are the combination
of body and soul. Body is matter
while soul is not matter. We
need food for the growth of our
body and the food for soul is
knowledge (Ilm). There is a
limit for the consumption of
food for body but there is no
limit for acquiring knowledge.
Dream is a good manifestation of
soul. When we dream, our bodies
are in the bed while the soul
travels to any part of the
world. We cannot see beyond our
scope of vision but the Noble
Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) could see
at the back as perfectly as in
front.
In order to attain perfection of
soul, we need the knowledge
(Ilm) and virtuous deeds (Amal).
Any one of the two is
insufficient. The alphabets of
both Ilm and Amal are the
same-Ain, Laam, Meem. To attain
perfection of Nafs (soul), we
need the knowledge (Ilm) and in
the light of knowledge we should
perform (Virtuous) deeds. As the
knowledge increases it becomes
part of faith (Yaqeen).
There is no limit of faith (Yaqeen). Hence,
Allah (s.w.t.) ordered the Noble
Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) to pray for
the increase of knowledge- Rabbe
Zidni Ilma. Surah Ta-Ha Ayah
114: “Allah is the Most High and
the True King, (Muhammad), do
not be hasty in reading the
revelation to the people before
its revelation is completed.
Say, “My Lord, grant me more
knowledge.” The Noble Prophet
(s.a.w.a.s.) prayed for more and
more knowledge and whatever
knowledge he received, he
transferred it to the Gateway of
Knowledge, the Commander of the
Faithful, Imam Ali (a.s.).
Hence, in one of His sermons,
Imam Ali (a.s.) had said that
there will not be any change in
his faith even if the curtains
were removed for him.”
There is a tradition of the
Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.):
“Whoever sees me as if he is
seeing the haq.” Imam Ali (a.s.)
is “Nafs-e-Rasul”. That is the
reason the Noble Prophet
(s.a.w.a.s.) said: “Looking at
Ali is ibadat (prayer), Ali is
with haq and haq is with Ali. O
Allah, turn the haq wherever Ali
goes.” For the generations who
came after Imam Ali (a.s.), it
is narrated that zikr of Imam
Ali (a.s.) is ibadat (prayer);
Azadari is ibadat (prayer). Imam
Ali (a.s.) had said: “Whoever
knows his soul (Nafs) knows his
Creator”
During our life-time we see
through our eyes, hear with our
ears; hence Nafs comprehends
things with the help of the five
senses, but as soon as the Nafs
leaves this material body, it
does not need the five senses. Hence,
the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s)
having supreme Nafs, even now
sees and hears everything.
The unit of faith or (Yaqeen) is
Salaat or namaaz. It is one of
the most important factors of
the progress of our souls.
Hakim Luqman said to his son:
“Son, Take care of your Nafs
(soul). Always think that Allah
is in front of you. He is
watching your activities,
speech, actions and thought. So
do such deeds that please Allah.
Sources used:
The Glorious Qur’an, Nahjul
Balagha, Wasiyatnama, Last Will
& Testament by Ayatollah Shaikh
Abdullah Mamkani
Marefat-e-Nafs by Ayatollah
Sayyid Aqeel-ul-Gharavi |
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