Nafs al-Ammarah

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.