Purification of Our Nafs (Souls)

Purification of Our Nafs (Souls) Courtesy of:IqraSense.com via aweber.com Purification of our Souls/ Nafs Dear Brother / Sister - Assalamu-Alaikum, I wanted to share with you the importance of purifying one's nafs (soul or inner self), in light of the guidance given in the Quran and Hadith. We should recognize that purification goes beyond the physical. We must also purify our hearts and minds from negative emotions and inclinations. This requires us to discipline our nafs and train it to follow the teachings of Islam. The importance of purifying our hearts from evils of the heart is clear in this hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) where he warned us that no one with an atom's weight of arrogance in their heart will enter Paradise (Muslim, 91). Allah Almighty says in the Quran: This verse emphasizes the importance of spiritual purification and highlights the consequences of neglecting it. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also stressed the importance of purifying one's soul in his teachings. In one Hadith, he said, "Verily, in the body is a small piece of flesh that, if it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Verily, it is the heart" (Sahih Bukhari). This Hadith emphasizes the centrality of the heart in the spiritual life and highlights the importance of keeping it pure. Imam al-Aajurri reminds us that neglecting to discipline our nafs can lead to a dangerous situation, while paying attention to it and seeking help from Allah can lead to a more virtuous life (Adab an-Nufoos, p. 17). How do we purify our nafs? Purifying the soul is not an easy task, but it is a necessary one. It involves removing the impurities that have accumulated within our souls, such as greed, jealousy, and anger. We should start the process of the purifying of ours souls and nafs through the acts of physical ibadah (worship) - the outward acts of worship which a person performs with his physical faculties. If we do them for the sake of Allah, it will undoubtedly have an effect on our inward nature. For example, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Shall I not tell you of something that will take away the evil of the heart? Fasting three days of each month.” Therefore, we should make use of salat (prayers), giving charity, and other acts of Ibadah to start the process. We should also ensure to make Dua to Allah asking Him to help us in that process. The journey towards purifying our souls is a lifelong one, but it is a journey that we must undertake. We must strive to purify our hearts and minds so that we may draw closer to Allah and live in accordance with His will. Let’s begin this journey towards spiritual purification by engaging in acts of worship, seeking knowledge, and doing good deeds. May Allah guide us all towards the purification of our souls and grant us success in this life and the hereafter. If you are learning from these newsletters, please support by enrolling in a monthly subscription if you can. Please click here to support. JazakAllah Khair! Best Regards, Wasim @ IqraSense.com