WHAT IS NAFS - PART TWO

 

Nafs is referred in Surah Al-Shams Ayah 7 – 9, “By the Soul and Him who fashioned it, and inspired it with (discernment between) its virtues and vices: one who purifies it is felicitous.

Nafs is an absolute reality. Unlike matter it does not have dimensions, cannot be seen or measured. Nafs need body to be created but does not need body for its existence. It is also a source of knowing Allah. Amir-al-Momineen Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “Whoever knows his self recognizes Allah.” If we think about it that Nafs is not our property, who created it and where it will be after we die.

Philosophers say that every cause has an effect. Fire causes warmth, Ice causes coolness. It is not possible that fire may cause warmth and coolness. There are different things in the world, how they were created by the philosophy of cause and effect. This erroneous approach mislead many honest polytheists and became disbeliever.

Human being needs eyes to see, because our Nfas is weak we need help (wasila). When Nafs is free from body it does not need eyes to see or ears to hear. Allah has created dreams for humans to enlighten this point. In dreams the shortcoming of matter is eliminated; we see although while our eyes are closed, we travel thousands of miles in a blink of eyes although our material bodies are in the bed. But whose Nafs is strong their bodily eyes and the eyes of their heart (Barzaqi) both work; it is said that the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) could see in front as well as people behind his back. It goes to prove that material curtain was not an obstruction for him and his progeny (a.s.). They can see and hear today also. Imam Ali (a.s.) being the “Nafse Rasool” said, “If the curtains are removed there will be no change in my conviction”

Now the question arises as to how we can strengthen our Nafs. To make our material bodies strong we need food which when digested become part of our body. Similarly, as Nafs is an abstract reality hence we need abstract food which is knowledge. We need to act or perform in the light of knowledge. Nafs is called Lahooti bird, and the bird flies with two wings, hence Nafs also need two wings: knowledge and action. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and Amir al-Momineen Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “Knowledge calls action, if it comes it stays otherwise knowledge departs.” In Arabic, there are three alphabets in the word “Ilm;” “Ain, Laam, Meem” and the same three alphabets are in “Amal.” We should advise our children to always act in the light of knowledge. Knowledge becomes a part of Nafs, and the process of this conversion is called “Amal” or action.

Human being can eat any food to a point after which body does not take any more. There is no limit to acquire knowledge as Allah asked His Messenger in Surah Ta Ha Ayah114 “Rabbi Zidni Ilma.”” My Lord! Increase me in knowledge” Is it possible that Allah is asking His Messenger for increase in knowledge, and He will not grant it? It is also not possible that Allah is asking His Messenger and he will not ask for it. Whateverthe Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s) requested Allah granted it. Also, Knowledge becomes a part of Nafs and Amir al-Momineen Imam Ali (a.s.) was the “Nafse Rasool,” hence whatever Allah granted the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) he transferred it completely to Imam Ali (a.s.)

The smallest unit of the Knowledge is whatever we say in our intention for praying Namaz; there is no God but Allah, who ordered us to pray for His nearness. The Prayer or Namaz is that Amal or action.

The Majalis or congregations for honoring Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) is the best source of strengthening our Nafs.

 

Sources: The Glorious Qur’an, WIKIPEDIA, Speech of Ayatullah Aqeel Gharavi on “Marefat-e-Nafs” Duas.org, al-Kafi 3/70