*The Nafs* The word nafs and its derivates occurs 250 times in the Qur’an. The nafs is often translated as “soul” and equated to the human soul - but the better translation is the individual/ self. In the Qur’an, human nafs is referred to as well as jinn (6:130), shaytan (18:51) and Allah Himself (6:12). The word ruh and nafs are not the same. In terms of its inner o📖aspect, *the Commanding Self, al-Nafs al-Ammārah* (12:18; 12:53; 20:96, 50:16; 64:16; 53:23; 59:9) where Satan whispers (47:25) and the self commands us to evil if you fight al-Nafs al-Ammārah, it results in heaven (see 70:40-41). al-Nafs al-Ammārah (the Commanding Self) is fought with *the Reproaching Self or Conscience (al-Nafs al-Lawwāmah)* (75:2) Eventually if you keep fighting the soul which commands to evil, the person reaches the *Tranquil Soul or Clear Conscience (al-Nafs al-Muṭmainnah)* (89:27) References: -Tafsir Al-Mizan under various verses on the word Nafs -(Also, as quoted by Sh. Zoheir Ali Esmail on a query about the Nafs):

Sharing something profound: *SubhanAllah...I had read Surah Yusuf countless times, but today I noticed something that left me speechless.* Allah told Yusuf's entire journey through just three shirts. This is One of the most brilliant pieces of storytelling in the Qur'an. The Qur'an mentions hundreds of miracles. Seas split. The moon split. The dead are brought back to life. Yet in Surah Yusuf... Allah repeatedly brings your attention to something as ordinary as... A shirt. The First Shirt: The Fabric of Betrayal (12:18) The first shirt is stained with fake blood. It represents the sting of betrayal. The people closest to Yusuf, his own flesh and blood used his garment to construct a lie to their father. It reminds us that sometimes, the deepest wounds don't come from enemies. They come from the people who were supposed to protect us. The Second Shirt: The Fabric of Justice (12:25-28) Years later, the second shirt appears. This time, it is torn from the back as Yusuf flees temptation. The very object once used to frame Yusuf becomes the evidence that clears his name. Allah is showing us a profound truth: the truth has an undeniable way of surviving. Then comes the final shirt. No fake blood. No tears of panic. No false accusations. Yusuf (AS) hands it to his brothers and says: "Take this shirt of mine and cast it over my father's face..." And Ya'qub's physical and spiritual sight is miraculously restored. Do you see the breathtaking progression? The first shirt carries grief. The second shirt carries justice. The third shirt carries healing. Allah didn't merely recount Yusuf's history; He mapped the exact emotional and spiritual journey of every single believer. Many of us are living in the first shirt. Misunderstood. Betrayed. Crying over things people did to us. But Allah reminds us...There is still another chapter. Others are living in the second shirt. Allah is exposing the truth. Vindicating them. Showing that patience was never weakness. And then there is the third shirt... The chapter no one can rush.

Let us pray for our children in this way: *1- (O Protector)* 🤲O Allah, You bestowed my children upon me without my having the power or ability to do so; therefore, protect them under Your protection without relying on my strength, for I do not have the power to protect them at every moment. *2- (O Sufficient One)* 🤲O Allah, protect them from every evil and harm, from the evil eye, and from injury. *3- (O Healer)* O Lord, protect them from illnesses, and if they are ill, grant them healing. *4- (O Most Merciful)* 🤲O Lord, do not make my trial and test lie in them, for my shoulders cannot bear such a burden. *5- (O Most Compassionate)* O Allah, reward them for their hidden and apparent trials. *6- (O Most Generous)* 🤲O Lord, make them among Your righteous servants and the guardians of Your Book. Make them outstanding and among the best of people in faith, worship, character, and knowledge; and make them the happiest people in life, blessed with the best of lives. *7- (O Most Generous and Bountiful)* 🤲O Allah, make my children self-sufficient through what You have made lawful, keeping them away from what You have forbidden; and through Your grace and generosity, make them independent of everyone besides You. *8- (O All-Powerful)* 🤲O Lord, just as You protect Your Book until the Day of Judgment, protect my children from every evil as well. *9- (O Restorer and Compeller)* 🤲O Allah, grant them friendship with the best of people, pure qualities, and reliance upon You. *10- (O Bestower)* 🤲O Allah, keep all illnesses of the heart and body away from them, and by Your power and strength, enable me to attain the utmost of my hopes for them. *11- (O Remembrancer)* 🤲O Allah, let me benefit from their kindness and goodness during my life, and make me happy through their prayers after my death. *12- (O Pleasure-Giver)* 🤲O Allah, I entrust my children to You; they are truly pieces of my heart and soul. They are in places hidden from my eyes, but not hidden from Your presence. So protect them with a protection worthy of Your greatness.

7 short duas for Difficult times

🤔 _Something to ponder while you are reading the tafsir of 73:5 below:_ _We have a mutawatir hadith of the Prophet (s) from Sunni & Shi’a sources saying he leaves behind *two weighty things* - the Holy Qur’an & his itrah, his Ahlulbayt._ ```Connect to Qur’an: https://chat.whatsapp.com/F8TLQum044X9Iox0v3OtEo``` (73:5) _*Indeed soon We shall cast on you a weighty word.*_ - The "weighty word" refers to the Glorious Qur’an. It is called "weighty" (thiql) for three main reasons: 1. *In its meaning* – It is divine speech issued from the realm of Allah’s majesty, so it cannot be fully received except by a soul that is purified from every defilement and detached from every force and source except Allah. It has an outer layer and an inner depth, and it clarifies all things (16:89). The Prophet (ﷺ) would often enter a state of buraha’ al-wahy (intensity of revelation) when Qur’an was revealed to him. 2. *In its spiritual demands* – It calls to the truth of Allah’s absolute oneness. As Qur’an says, it is so powerful that it could move mountains & speak to the dead (59:21, 13:31). 3. *In its mission and trials* – It commands the Prophet (s) to establish the religion of pure monotheism and make this religion superior to all religions. This mission brought him great abuse, and betrayal from disbelievers and hypocrites which even Qur’an speaks about. - This weight is also shared by the ummah as they must follow its commands and prohibitions according to each person’s capacity. - The verse is linked to the command of night vigil (73:2, 17:79), because night prayer prepares the Prophet (s) to receive this weighty revelation and draws him even closer to Allah. Allah has described the night prayer as a path to himself (73:19, 76:29) _Ref: Allamah Tabataba’i, Tafsir al-Mizan, vol. 25, p. 239_