The Baha'i Studies Listserv Nafs rougly means the "animalistic" nature of humans in its most basic state. But it can rise to different levels of perfection through self-discipline, supplication, etc.
>From Wikipedia: *In the eponymous **Sura* <https://mail.google.com/wiki/Sura>* of the Qur’an, the prophet **Yusef* <https://mail.google.com/wiki/Yusef>* says "Yet I claim not that my nafs was innocent: Verily the nafs of man incites to evil."[Qur'an <https://mail.google.com/wiki/Qur%27an> 12:53<http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/012.qmt.html#012.053> ] Here he is explaining the circumstances in which he came to be falsely imprisoned for the supposed seduction of **Zuleika*<https://mail.google.com/wiki/Zuleika_(legendary)> *.* *Islam emphasises the importance of fighting nafs because the prophet ** Muhammad* <https://mail.google.com/wiki/Muhammad>* said after returning from a war, "We now return from the small struggle (**Jihad Asghar*<https://mail.google.com/wiki/Jihad#Lesser_Jihad_.28Jihad_bil_Saif.29> *) to the big struggle (**Jihad Akbar*<https://mail.google.com/wiki/Jihad#Greater_Jihad> *)". His companions asked, "Oh **prophet*<https://mail.google.com/wiki/Prophet> * of **God* <https://mail.google.com/wiki/God>*, what is the big struggle?" He replied, "The struggle against nafs."[6]<https://mail.google.com/mail/html/compose/static_files/blank_quirks.html#cite_note-Kabbani-5> * *The Qur'an enjoins the faithful "to hinder the nafs from lust",[Qur'an<https://mail.google.com/wiki/Qur%27an> 79:40 <http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/079.qmt.html#079.040>] and another **hadith* <https://mail.google.com/wiki/Hadith>* warns that "the worst enemy you have is [the nafs] between your sides."[7]<https://mail.google.com/mail/html/compose/static_files/blank_quirks.html#cite_note-Nicholson_1914-6> **Rumi* <https://mail.google.com/wiki/Rumi>* warns of the nafs in its guise of religious hypocrisy, saying "the nafs has a **rosary*<https://mail.google.com/wiki/Rosary> * and a **Koran* <https://mail.google.com/wiki/Koran>* in its right hand, and a **scimitar* <https://mail.google.com/wiki/Scimitar>* and dagger in the sleeve."[8]<https://mail.google.com/mail/html/compose/static_files/blank_quirks.html#cite_note-Nicholson_1990-7> * *Animal imagery is often used to describe the nafs. A popular image is a donkey or unruly horse that must be trained and broken so that eventually it will bear its rider to the goal.[9]<https://mail.google.com/mail/html/compose/static_files/blank_quirks.html#cite_note-Nicholson_1911-8> **Rumi* <https://mail.google.com/wiki/Rumi>* compares the nafs to a camel which the hero **Majnun* <https://mail.google.com/wiki/Majnun>*, representing the intellect (**'Aql* <https://mail.google.com/wiki/%27Aql>*), strains to turn in the direction of the dwelling-place of his beloved.[8]<https://mail.google.com/mail/html/compose/static_files/blank_quirks.html#cite_note-Nicholson_1990-7> * *The self-accusing nafs (nafs-i-lawwama)* In Sura al-Qiyama <https://mail.google.com/wiki/Qiyama> the Qur'an mentions "the self-accusing *nafs*".[Qur'an <https://mail.google.com/wiki/Qur%27an> 75:2 <http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/075.qmt.html#075.002>] This is the stage where "the conscience <https://mail.google.com/wiki/Conscience> is awakened and the self accuses one for listening to one’s ego. One repents and asks for forgiveness <https://mail.google.com/wiki/Forgiveness>."[10]<https://mail.google.com/mail/html/compose/static_files/blank_quirks.html#cite_note-PathToSpiritualExcellence-9>Here the *nafs* is inspired by your heart, sees the results of your actions, agrees with your brain, sees your weaknesses, and aspires to perfection. [edit <https://mail.google.com/w/index.php?title=Nafs&action=edit§ion=4> ] The *nafs* at peace (*nafs-i-mutma'inna*) In Sura al-Fajr <https://mail.google.com/wiki/Fajr> the Qur'an mentions "the *nafs* at peace".[Qur'an <https://mail.google.com/wiki/Qur%27an> 89:27<http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/089.qmt.html#089.027> ] This is the ideal stage of ego for Sufis. On this level one is firm in one’s faith and leaves bad manners behind.[10]<https://mail.google.com/mail/html/compose/static_files/blank_quirks.html#cite_note-PathToSpiritualExcellence-9>The soul becomes tranquil, at peace. [10]<https://mail.google.com/mail/html/compose/static_files/blank_quirks.html#cite_note-PathToSpiritualExcellence-9>At this stage Sufis have relieved themselves of all materialism <https://mail.google.com/wiki/Materialism> and worldly problems and are satisfied with the will of God. On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 9:39 AM, Stephen Gray <skg_z...@yahoo.com> wrote: > The Baha'i Studies Listserv > > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lataif-e-sitta > > The Qur'an and Baha'i writings use the terms of these from time to time. > > Nafs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nafs > Qalb http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qalb > Ruh http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruh > Sirr > Khafi > Ahkfa > Qalib > > How often are these terms used and in what contexts? > > The Nafs and Ruh have associated stages too. > > http://irfancolloquia.org/14/savi_sufi > > The paper is not yet online? > > > __________________________________________________ > You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:matthewhaa...@gmail.com > Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:leave-521074-9533...@list.jccc.edu > Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to ly...@list.jccc.edu > Or subscribe: > http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=bahai-st > Baha'i Studies is available through the following: > Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu > Web - http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/?forum=bahai-st > News (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st > Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai...@list.jccc.net > New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu > > __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:arch...@mail-archive.com Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:leave-521222-274...@list.jccc.edu Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to ly...@list.jccc.edu Or subscribe: http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=bahai-st Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu Web - http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/?forum=bahai-st News (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai...@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu
