What does Islam say about the soul (nafs)?
The Qurʾan speaks of three stations of the nafs — al-ammārah, al-lawwāmah, and al-muṭmaʾinnah. The scholars traced the journey from the commanding self to the soul at rest.
10 passages from 8 books in the library
The Qurʾan describes the nafs passing through stations, and al-Ghazali traces its journey from the self that flees good to the soul at rest. He identifies the "commanding self that flees from good," for which an ill end is feared, and the self that returns to repentance time and again, day after day. On its essence he cites the verse, "Say, the soul is of the command of my Lord." The work, he teaches, is to empty the inner self of its corrupting effects just as the outer body is cleansed.
- The commanding self (al-ammārah) that flees from good
- The self that turns back to repentance day after day (al-lawwāmah)
- The soul at rest (al-muṭmaʾinnah)
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 8 books by Imam al-Ghazali — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"However, if it is deemed that self-harm is the lesser evil and this judgment is decisive, without hesitation or contrary inclination, the will and ability are aroused, leading to self-destruction."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Correcting others is not intended for self-correction, nor is self-correction intended for correcting"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"This is outwardly slander and inwardly self-praise, which makes it doubly tempting for the soul."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"and this self is the commanding self that flees from good. There is fear of an ill end for such"
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"repentance time and again, day after day. This type of self is the one referred to as the self"
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"Regarding the mystery of the soul, Allah Almighty said, Say, The soul is of the command of My"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"Part of hypocrisy is the difference between the inner self and the public self, the difference"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"worse than that, self-admiration, self-admiration. This hadith was narrated by Al-Bazaar, Ibn"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"and comfort for the soul, providing a broad space for anyone engrossed in self-reformation."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"One must empty the inner self of these effects, just as the outer self is cleansed of their"
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