In Islamic thought, the concept of nafs (self) and its purification, or tazkiyatun nafs, has multiple interpretations, including:
-
Stages of the nafs
The nafs has multiple stages, or levels, that represent different aspects of the self:- Nafs al-ammara: The ego, or selfish desires
- Nafs al-lawwama: The conscience, or the ability to recognize and feel remorse for wrongdoing
- Nafs al-mutma’inna: The highest level of the nafs, characterized by inner peace, contentment, and spiritual fulfillment
-
Nurturing the nafs
The nafs is not inherently good or evil, but rather something that can be nurtured and self-regulated to become “good” and “inwardly meaningful”.-
Educational application
In an educational setting, tazkiyatun nafs can help students cleanse their souls of internal disturbances that can hinder their moral and academic growth. -
Core of the faith
The purification of the self is a core principle of Islam, and is ingrained in the Muslim psyche by the Quran, ahadith, and Sunnah.
Self-purification
Tazkiyatun nafs is the process of cleansing the soul by purifying the heart and removing stains and lusts that hinder spiritual connection with God. -