Nafs al-Ammarah
"Nafs al-Ammarah is the self that commands evil and hinders spiritual development."
Spiritual & Deep Meaning
Nafs al-Ammarah expresses the lowest level of the self in Sufi literature. This type of self directs a person towards desires and negative feelings, leading them to sins and bad habits. The developmental process in Sufism involves the effort to escape from this evil self and reach higher levels of the self. When Nafs al-Ammarah combines with the diseases of the heart and soul, it can lead to spiritual collapse. Muslims should aim to resist such negative influences by training their selves and strengthening their will.
Example / Wisdom Quote
"In the Qur'an: 'Indeed, the soul commands to evil.' (Yusuf, 53)"
Spiritual Dictionary
Continue expanding your spiritual vocabulary
Nafs al-Ammarah
Nafs al-Ammarah is the level of the self that represents the lowest and worst desires of a person.
SufismNafs al-Lawwama
Nafs al-Lawwama is the level of the self where the individual criticizes themselves and questions their mistakes.
nafs al-mutma'innaNafs al-Mutma'inna
Nafs al-Mutma'inna is the highest level of the self where a person finds peace with Allah and themselves.