Nafs - see 'Self'.
Nafs al Hayawaniyyah - see 'Self - Animal'.
Nafs al Kulliya - see 'Universal Soul'.
(Nafs al Ammarra). 'The self which commands'. The Qur'an refers to this self, "The (human) soul is certainly prone to evil" (12:53). This self resides in the world of the senses and is dominated by earthly desires and passions. The initial struggle i...
(Nafs al Hayawaniyya). The animal self. This is the lowest self. It is man cast down to the "lowest of the low". The animal self is totally obedient to the base natural impulses. The one who is dominated by the animal self is unfit for spiritual end...
(Nafs al Ilahiyyah). The Divine Self is Allah as He is with His Qualities of Life, Knowledge, Power, Will, Hearing, Sight and Speech.
(Nafs al Kamila). The Perfect Self. The Qur'an refers to this Self, "Enter then, among My slaves. Enter into My Garden" (89:29,30). This is the final stage in the development of the self to the Self. It is the stage of Real Islam when the slave is i...
(Nafs al Lawwama). The Self that Blames.The Qur'an refers to this Self, "And I do call to witness the self that blames" (75:2). This Self is conscious of its own imperfections. Its journeying is for Allah. The Blaming Self is equated with the second...
(Nafs al Mardhiyya). The Qur'an refers to this Self, "And Well-pleasing unto Him!" (89:28). This Self is well-pleasing to Allah. It experiences the bewilderment of journeying from Allah. The Well-pleasing Self is equated with the sixth rung (Truth of...
(Nafs al Mulhamma) is the Inspired Self. The Qur'an refers to this Self, "By the Self and the proportion and order given to it" (91:7). This Self has turned away from wrong action and is able to discern that which will take it to felicity. It journey...
(Nafs al Mutma'inna) is the Self at Peace.The Qur'an refers to this Self, "Oh Self, in complete rest and satisfaction!" (89:27). This Self is tranquil as it rests in the Certitude of Allah. It has been reintegrated into the Spirit. The Nafs al Mutma'...
(Nafs al Qaddisa). The Sanctified Self has been entirely permeated with the Remembrance of Allah.
(Nafs ar Radhiyya) is the well-pleased Self. The Qur'an refers to this Self, "Return to your Lord - well pleased . . " (89:28). This Self is well-pleased with itself due to the harmonious balance of its noble character traits. It is annihilated in Al...
(Nafsani). This term is applied to the egocentric tendencies. For example, there are four kinds of 'incoming thoughts' which reach the heart divine, spiritual, egocentric and satanic.
(Nafth). Blowing or inblowing, as with the breath. The knowledge of the mysteries, which is beyond reason, reaches the heart through the blowing of the Holy Spirit. This knowledge is specific to a Prophet or one of the friends of Allah.
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