Nafs

Nafs is a reflection of the soul in Islamic philosophy and contains the elements that determine an individual's identity and character. Nafs is also the center of a person's desires, feelings, and thoughts. In Sufism, the nafs is initially referred to as 'Nafs al-ammarah' and describes a state where negative tendencies dominate a person. To overcome this state, one undergoes spiritual training, and during this process, the nafs transitions to the stage of 'Nafs al-mutma'inna'. The teachings of Sufism aim for the individual to confront their nafs, control it, and attain spiritual virtues. Struggling with the nafs is an important step towards spiritual maturity, and therefore, it imposes the obligation on the individual to discipline their nafs.