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 5 books in the library
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 5 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."
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"The will is absent because it arises under intellect or sensory influence that deems an action agreeable, and self-harm is inherently disagreeable."
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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"Umar ibn Abdulaziz said, If truth aligns with desire, it is like the froth on the top of a stream, and it is not impossible for both self-interest and religious duty to be motivating together."
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"No soul predestined by Allah to exist except it will come into existence is agreed upon in a hadith from Abu Saeed the hadith"
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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"Allah the Almighty knows best. An exposition on the treatment of self-admiration, to treat any ailment one must counter its cause with its opposite."
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"Similarly, if someone gives a gift and magnifies it as an obligation, becoming self-admiring, and uses the gift for their own service,"
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"Self-admiration in these areas is more common than admiration of beauty, strength, or lineage, which are outside one's control."
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"Consider self-admiration through actions within one's control, such as worship, charity, or managing and reforming creation."
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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"The purity of the soul means voluntarily giving up without necessity, unlike when forced to choose between two hardships, opting for the lesser one."
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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"O Allah, lighten the earth on his sides and open the gates of heaven for his soul and accept him with a good acceptance."
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