The Collins English Dictionary has defined Spirituality as: “ TheA stateA orA qualityA ofA beingA dedicatedA toA God, A faith, A or spiritualA thingsA orA values, A especiallyA asA contrastedA withA materialA or temporalA 1s. If we are to look at the beginning of the word spirit, it is derived from theA LatinA word spA«ritus, which meansA external respiration, which is equivalentA toA spA«ri- , A combiningA formA representingA spA«rA?reA which meansA to take a breath. ii This significance is slightly similar to the Arabic word ar-ruh which is one of the significances of nafs. In the Holy Quran it is mentioned that AllA?h blew of HisA rA«a?? , a.A into Adam, giving life to Adam ‘s organic structure ( Quran ; 32: 8 ) , andA b.A into Maryam for the construct of E?A?sA? ( 21: 91 and 66: 12 ) . HereA rA«a??A equates withA rA«a??A and means the “ breath of life ” , the creative activity which belongs to AllA?h.A[ three ]
THE TERM NAFS:
There's a specialist from your university waiting to help you with that essay.
Tell us what you need to have done now!
order now
The word nafs has many different significances ; as a noun it can intend ( 1 ) ego ( O°O§O? ) , ( 2 ) kernel ( O¬UZU?U’U‡UZO± ) , ( 3 ) psyche ( O±U?U?O ) A , ( 4 ) mindA O?UZU‚U’U„ , ( 5 ) person, individual ( O?UZO®U’Oµ )[ four ]
THE TERM NAFS IN THE QURAN:
In the Holy Quran the word nafs has been used for assorted significances in different contexts every bit good. Harmonizing to Picken ( 2005 )[ V ], the term nafs and its derived functions within the Qur’an occur 398 times. Picken besides discusses that there are different belongingss to which the nafs signifies: ( 1 ) Nafs, connoting the psyche ; grounds is given of the poetry from the Quran ( 6:93 ) , the word O?UZU†U?U?O?UZU?U?U…U?aˆ? is used to depict the psyche of the incorrect actors that are taken out by the angels.
( 2 ) In another poetry of the Quran ( 31:28 ) , the nafs implies the human being ; the word U?UZU†UZU?U?O?U?U¬ in the poetry means an person.
( 3 ) Furthermore, the term nafs is besides used to depict the human being ‘s capableness of understanding. The word O?UZU†U?U?O?U?U?U?U…U? is used to depict the psyches who are convinced about the truth, but do n’t believe due to arrogance. This shows that the nafs has the module of concluding and mind ; nevertheless it besides has been given the pick of choosing good or evil after distinguishing between the two.
Merely as the term nafs signifies the rational significance, it besides signifies the emotional significance. ( 4 ) The term nafs has been used to mean the bosom, it is used in the Quran ( 7:205 ) as U†UZU?U?O?U?U?UZ U?U?U‰ . This word is used to depict how to retrieve Allah inaudibly, within one ‘s ego in the forenoon and the eventide ( i.e. Dhikr ) . In another poetry of the Quran ( 12:77 ) , the word nafs is used like this: U†UZU?U?O?U?U‡U? U?U?U‰ USU?U?O?U?U?U? U?UZO?UZO?UZO±UZU‘U‡UZO§ . This means that Yusuf had kept his secret within himself. These actions of hiding secrets and mutely retrieving Allah are actions refering to the bosom ; that is, no 1 can cognize these actions are being done except the 1 who is making it.
Last, ( 5 ) the nafs is used to mean the disposition towards good or evil. In the Quran ( 50:16 ) , its mentioned U†UZU?U?O?U?U‡U? O?U?U‡U?U¦ O?U?U?UZO?U?U?U?O?U? U†UZO?U?U„UZU…U? U…UZO§ ; this means that Allah knows any concealed suggestions that a psyche susurrations to itself. Additionally, the Quran besides references in ( 75:2 ) , U±U„U„UZU‘U?UZU‘O§U…UZO©U? O?U?U±U„U†UZU‘U?U?O?U? O?U?U‚U?O?U?U…U? U„UZO? . This poetry describes Allah curse by the self-reproaching psyche.
THE TERM TAZKIYAH:
As the word nafs has many different significances, the term tazkiyah does every bit good. Harmonizing to the lexicon, tazkiyah agencies O?UZO·U’U‡U?USO±[ six ], significance: A expurgationA , A decontaminationA , A purificationA , A cleaningA , A chasteningA , A cleaning, refinementA andA refinement. In the Quran, the words nafs and tazkiyah are mentioned in the undermentioned poetries:
“ By the psyche and Him Who perfected it. And inspired it what is incorrect for it and ( what is ) right for it. He is so successful who causes it to turn, And he is so a failure who stunts it. ” ( Quran ; 91:7-10 )
Harmonizing to the Hadith of the Prophet Mohammad ( peace be upon him ) : AbuA DharrA ( Allah be pleased with him ) saidA that theA MessengerA ( peace be upon him ) said, “ The best jehad is for one to execute Jihad against his ain ego and against his desires. ”[ seven ]This hadith brings about many different facets of purification of the psyche which is a life clip battle till decease parts the psyche from the organic structure. Allah has kept the highest wages ( that is Paradise ) for the psyche which restrained itself in this universe from desires and lecherousnesss. In the Quran, it is revealed:
‘And as for him who dreaded standing before his Lord, and restrained his psyche from lecherousness, Verily the Garden shall be his resort. ‘ ( 79:40-41 )
In another poetry of the Holy Quran, the wagess for those who purified their nafs are mentioned:
“ Gardens of Eternity, beneath which flow rivers: they will brood in this for aye: such is the wages of those who purify themselves ( from immorality ) . ” ( Quran ; 20:76 )
Harmonizing to ‘The Quran: An encyclopaedia ‘[ eight ], the psyche has three categorical Stationss:
1. THE SOUL THAT COMMANDS TO EVIL
First, it isA ammara bi’l su ‘ , A which is mentioned in the Holy Quran:
“ And I free non myself ( from the incrimination ) . Verily, the ( human ) ego is inclined to evil, except when my Lord bestows His Mercy ( upon whom He wills ) . Verily, my Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. “ ( 12.53 ) .
The psyche is associated withA al-hawa, A which, in the sense of ‘desire ‘ , is ever evil. It must be restrained and made patient, and its greed must be feared.
2. THE SOUL THAT IS CHASTISED
TheA nafsA lawwama or the chastised psyche is mentioned in the Quran ( 75.2 ) .
3. THE TRANQUIL SOUL
The psyche is addressed asA mutmai’nna: A tranquil, this is mentioned in the Quran in the undermentioned poetry:
“ ( To the righteous psyche will be said: ) “ O ( 1000 ) psyche, in ( complete ) remainder and satisfaction! Come back thou to thy Lord good pleased ( thyself ) , and well-pleasing unto Him! ( 89:27-28 ) . ”
The relationship between the ruh and Allah has been present since the creative activity of world. In the Quran, the creative activity of adult male is explained as follows ;
‘But He fashioned him in due proportion, and breathed into him something of His spirit. And He gave you ( the modules of ) hearing and sight and feeling ( and understanding ) : small thanks do ye give! ( Quran ; 32:8-9 )
RELATIONSHIP OF THE NAFS WITH IT ‘S Godhead:
Allah breathed into adult male ‘something ‘ of His spirit. The Divine component in human existences is genuinely the scruples that draws it towards its Creator. Abu Huraira ( Allah be pleased with him ) reported Allah ‘s Messenger ( peace be upon him ) as stating: “ No kid is born but uponA fitra. He so said. Recite: The nature made by Allah in which He created adult male, there is no neutering of Allah ‘s nature ; that is the right faith. ”[ nine ]It is the unconditioned behaviour of adult male to hanker for its Creator. Every one of us is born on the natural inherent aptitude of believing in Allah and the whole life journey of adult male is to remain connected with his Lord, boulder clay he parts from this universe. Consequently, the highest wages given to the people of Paradise would be their ability to see Allah and so they will be asked if they want anything better than that, to which they will answer that nil can be better than to be able to see Allah.[ x ]The psyche that is connected to Allah in this life, would be rewarded vastly in the hereafter with the close propinquity of the Divine Being. Just as Allah says in His Book:
“ Those who believe, and whose Black Marias find satisfaction in the recollection of Allah: for without uncertainty in the recollection of Allah do Black Marias happen satisfaction. ( Quran ; 13:28 ) A
With that we set up that Quran is the paramount beginning of dhikr of Allah as it is the Word of the Divine Being Himself. This beautiful bilateral relationship of Allah and the psyche is explained in the poetry of Surah Al-Nur as the ‘Parable of Light ‘ and this poetry has been explicated by Ahmad ( n.d. ) as: “ the Light of Primordial Nature is the visible radiation within, the pure and undefiled ruh, and the Light of Revelation is the visible radiation without, that is contained in Divine Revelation. In order to see, the sense of sight has to be healthy and vivacious, but a individual will non be able to see if this healthy module is non complemented by visible radiation in the external environment. Similarly, when the inner module of perceptual experience ( i.e. , a healthy and vivacious ruh ) is complemented by the visible radiation of counsel in the external environment ( i.e. , Divine Revelation ) so the result is the Light of Faith. This light helps the single “ see ” the true nature of world that is hidden behind legion head coverings. As one ‘s religion additions in deepness and strength, the truster begins to experience that he or she is really “ seeing ” Allah. Even if this degree is non reached, there should at least be a changeless and ageless consciousness on the portion of the truster that Allah is decidedly watching him/her. This consciousness of ‘seeing ‘ and ‘being seen ‘ is the highest degree of religion that has been called Ihsan in Qur’anic and Prophetic nomenclature. ”[ xi ]
Quest TAZKIYAH AL NAFS:
The chief purpose of tazkiyah Al nafs is to achieve piousness and this may be achieved by adhering to the hierarchy of religion harmonizing to the celebrated Hadith of Jibril. Islam is the foundation, comprising of the outward physical actions of our faith.
Shahadah: the testimony of religion ; to attest that Allah is the Creator of everything in the existence and resignation to Him. Besides to attest that Prophet Mohammad ( peace be upon him ) is the last and concluding courier of Allah.
Salat: to execute the five day-to-day prescribed supplications by Allah on clip.
Successful so are the trusters. Those who offer their Salat ( supplications ) with all sedateness and full submissiveness. ( Quran ; 23:1-2 )
In the Hadith of the Prophet Mohammad ( peace be upon him ) , it is reported: “ Abu Hurayra said, ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and allow him peace, say, ‘What do you believe would go on if there was a river by person ‘s door in which he washed five times every twenty-four hours? Do you believe that any soil would stay on him? ‘ They said, ‘Not a bit of soil would stay on him. ‘ He said, ‘That is a metaphor of the five supplications by which Allah wipes out incorrect actions. ‘ ” [ Agreed upon ][ xii ]
Zakah: It is a mean of purification of one ‘s wealth acquired through the mode described halal by Allah. In the Quran, Allah commands His Prophet:
“ Take Sadaqah ( alms ) from their wealth in order to sublimate them and consecrate them with it, and invoke Allah for them. Verily! Your supplications are a beginning of security for them, and Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower. Know they non that Allah accepts penitence from His slaves and takes the Sadaqat ( alms, charity ) and that Allah Alone is the One Who forgives and accepts penitence, Most Merciful ” ( Quran ; 9:103-104 )
Fasting in the month of Ramadan: Allah prescribed fasting in Ramadan on the trusters so they can go Al-Muttaqun ( the pious ) ( Quran ; 2:183 ) . It is reported in a Hadith: “ Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and allow him peace, said, ‘Anyone who prays in Ramadan motivated by belief and in outlook of the wages will be forgiven his yesteryear incorrect actions. ‘ [ Agreed upon ] ”[ xiii ]
Hajj: Performing Hajj with a pure purpose and earnestness towards Allah ‘s bid erases all the wickednesss of the truster. Abu Hurayra said, “ I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and allow him peace, say, ‘Whoever goes on hadj for Allah entirely and does non hold sexual intercourse or commit any indignation will return as he was on the twenty-four hours his female parent bore him. ‘ ” [ Agreed upon ][ xiv ]
The 2nd degree up the hierarchy is of Iman ; belief. It is to believe with strong belief in Allah, His Books, His Messengers, His Angels, in the last twenty-four hours and destiny. The individual who reaches these two phases has the ability to travel frontward to the degree of Ihsan ( excellence ) , which is the pinnacle of the faith. As the Prophet ( peace be upon him ) explained in the Hadith of Jibril ; it is to idolize Allah as you see Him. Allah references in the Quran about the people who do Ihsan are loved by Him ;
“ Those who believe and do righteous good workss, there is no wickedness on them for what they ate ( in the yesteryear ) , if they fear Allah ( by maintaining off from His out things ) , and believe and make righteous good workss, and once more fear Allah and believe, and one time once more fear Allah and make good workss with Ihsan ( flawlessness ) . And Allah loves the good-doers ( AlMuhsinin ) . ” ( Quran ; 5:93 )
Furthermore, in the undermentioned poetry Taqwa is coupled with Ihsan:
“ Truly, Allah is with those who fear Him ( maintain their responsibility unto Him ) , and those who are Muhsinun ( good-doers ) . ” ( Quran ; 16:128 )
However, other ethical motives that straight or indirectly sublimate the nafs may be:
Be earnestness towards Allah, one ‘s ego and others.
Ask whole hearted penitence from Allah.
Stay steadfast in the faith
Be true in address and actions
Be alert over one ‘s actions and ideas
Fear the Awareness of Allah.
Reflecting upon one ‘s action invariably in order to remain on the right way
Decision:
The world of Tazkiyah Al nafs lies in the mode of invariably watching over the actions that would take a individual off from Allah and His pleasance. It is a changeless conflict with one ‘s nafs ; it needs to be reminded persistently of Allah through his Dhikr, which is the Quran, the ultimate beginning of counsel for world. Furthermore, executing Acts of the Apostless of worship that are obligatory in Islam, following the way of the Prophet Mohammad ( peace be upon him ) and contending the evil dispositions of the psyche. Purification of the psyche is something that can non be measured or quantified. The nafs controls the actions of one ‘s organic structure ; which stimulates the degree of one ‘s religion to increase or diminish. Therefore, Allah has promised Paradise to the 1s who do their tazkiyah.
