Surah al-Fajr Ayah
27 to 30 says: “Ya Aiyyatuhan Nafsul Mut’ma’innah Irjei’ ila Rabbeke Ra’ziatan
Mar’ziyyah Fadkhuli Fi Ibadi Wadkhuli Jannati.” “O Serene (tranquilled) soul,
return to your Lord well pleased with Him and He will be pleased with you.
Enter among My servants into My Paradise.”
The nature of soul (spirit) has not been disclosed to the
people as stated in Suarh al-Isra’ Ayah
85: “They ask you about the soul (spirit). Say, “The soul (spirit) comes by the
Command of my Lord. You have been given very little knowledge.”
When human soul was in the abstract state, it was in
protection of Allah, the Creator. When it entered the human body, it was
imprisoned and at this stage it is called “Nafs”. Before it was attached to the
body, it had no desires or other material needs. The Nafs attains the knowledge
of environment slowly, and being unaware of the knowledge of reality, he gets
away from the Origin (Allah). On attaining adult-hood, it confronts his Creator,
as stated in Surah al-Nahl Ayah 4: “He created the human being from a drop of
fluid but the human being openly disputes His Word.” The distinction of
soul from the body is amply explained while explaining the “Life of Martyrs” in
Surah al-Baqarah Ayah 154: “Do not consider those who are slain for the cause
of Allah to be dead. They are alive but you are unaware of them.”
Similarly, the memory is also a manifestation of the soul.
There are four
states of “Nafs”; Ammarah, Lawwamah, Mulhimah, and Mut’ma’innah.
Nafs-e-Ammarah
commands us to commit sins disobeying the Creator. Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “The restraining of the Nafs is the greatest war!”
Nafs-e-Lawwamah
criticizes the person when he commits a sin.
Mulhimah is
the state of the Nafs when it receives inspiration from Allah.
Mut’ma’innah is
the highest state of certainty and tranquility and should be the goal of every
pious person.
To achieve something, we have to work hard as stated in Surah al-Najm Ayah39 and 40: “Certainly, no
man can achieve anything without
hard labor. He will certainly see the result of his labor.” Similarly, Surah al-Baqarah Ayah 286 enhances the
concept: “Allah does not impose on any soul a responsibility beyond its
ability. Every soul receives whatever it gains and is liable for whatever it
does.”
How to strive towards the state of Nafs-e-Mut’ma’innah:
Man has no control
over anything, as highlighted in Surah al-Yaseen Ayah83: “All Glory belongs to
the One in whose hands are the
control of all things.”One should control his tongue, eyes, and ears.
Strive and work towards begging for Mercy of Allah to know one’s self, which in
turn leads him to Allah. The Infallible
Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “When Allah bestows His Mercy upon a man, he will identify himself.” When man strives
towards Mulhimah, then Allah grants serenity as in Surah al-Fath Ayah 4: “It is Allah who has given confidence to the
hearts of the believers to increase and strengthen their faith.”The believer
should have confidence that when any hardship befalls him, it is recorded in
the Book as stated in Surah al-Hadid
Ayah 22: “Whatever hardships you face on earth and in your souls are written in
the Book (Knowledge of Allah, His
prophets and their successors).” When he is in a state of Mulhimah, he
enjoys peace of mind and does not worry
about his sustenance as mentioned in Surah
al-Za’riyat Ayah 58: “It is Allah Who is the Sustainer and the Lord of invincible strength.”We
should stop talking and praising ourselves, keep away from pride and know that
man owns nothing but Allah owns everything and knows everything. Do not depend
on your worldly resources as they can be lost in no time. Know that as soul is
in every part of human body but cannot be seen, similarly, Allah is
Omnipresent; present everywhere but cannot be seen. No place is devoid of Him.
Study the Unity of Allah and strengthen your faith on His Unity. Do not worry
about the sustenance in future. Surah
al-Hud Ayah 6 says: “There is no living creature on earth that does not receive
sustenance from Allah. He knows his dwelling and resting place. Everything is recorded in the Glorious Book.” Always
remember Allah, wherever you are as stressed in Suarh
Ale Imran Ayah 191: “It is these who speak of Allah while standing, sitting, or
resting on their sides and who think about the creation of the heavens and the earth and say: “Lord, you have not
created all this without reason. Glory is
to you. Lord, save us from the torment of the fire.”
The Infallible Imam
Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: “When the Angel of Death approaches a believer (enjoying
Nafse-Mut’ma’innah) , he consoles him like a father and asks him to look up and
he sees the sacred faces of Ahlal Bayt (a.s.) and the Ayah 27 to 30 of Surah
al-Fajr echoes in his ears!
Condensed from “Nafse
Mutmaina” by Ayatullah Shaheed Abdul Husayn Dasteghaib
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