You Soul And Its Desires.
What Is Nafs? In Islam, nafs refers to the inner self — the soul, ego, and lower desires within a person. It includes tendencies toward lust, pride, anger, greed, and selfishness. In the Qur’an, Allah mentions different states of the nafs, showing that it is not fixed — it can rise or fall depending on how it is nurtured. Scholars such as Ibn Al Qayyim رَحِمَهُ ٱللَّٰهُ explain that the nafs naturally inclines toward evil unless disciplined and purified. The Three Levels of the Nafs 1️⃣ Nafs al-Ammārah (The Commanding Soul) This nafs: - Commands toward sin - Justifies wrongdoing - Makes excuses - Acts impulsively - Delays repentance It says things like: - “It’s not that serious.” - “Everyone does it.” - “I’ll repent later.” This is the lowest level — the ego in control. 2️⃣ Nafs al-Lawwāmah (The Self-Reproaching Soul) This nafs: - Feels guilt after sin - Criticizes itself - Struggles between right and wrong - Seeks tawbah (repentance) - Experiences internal conflict Example: A person speaks harshly, then regrets it, feels remorse, and seeks forgiveness. That guilt is a sign of living iman. The heart is awake. The struggle itself is growth. 3️⃣ Nafs al-Muṭma’innah (The Tranquil Soul) This nafs: - Finds peace in dhikr - Trusts Allah’s decree - Is not shaken by hardship - Practices sabr (patience) and shukr (gratitude) - Is content with Allah When hardship comes, this person says: “Qadr Allah — this is from Allah.” The prophets are the highest example of this state. They showed complete trust, patience, and gratitude in every situation. Fighting the Nafs Is a Form of Jihad Struggling against your ego, desires, and impulses is a lifelong battle. Scholars describe this internal struggle as jihad al-nafs — striving against the self for the sake of Allah. Every time you: - Lower your gaze - Hold back your anger - Pray when you feel lazy - Give charity when you feel attached You are defeating the nafs.