Islam’s View of the Self
Islam’s broader approach towards human life is through the recognition of the human soul as being composed of essentially three elements:
- Nafs al-Ammarah (soul commanding to evil or evil-inciting soul)
- Nafs al-Lawwamah (self-reproaching soul)
- Nafs al-Mutma’innah (tranquil, peaceful soul)
The goal of every Muslim is to be aware of the stage of his or her own soul, and to strive to reach the stage of tranquility and peace that can only come about through a disciplined life in obedience to God.
The soul commanding to evil grips the inpidual in a state of forgetfulness. Addiction, and indeed, all human infractions stem from such a state, where the human being is heedless of the purpose of life, heedless of the Creator, and of the Day when all human beings will be held accountable for their actions. It is this state of forgetfulness that the inpidual must strive to overcome, and work progressively towards a state of awareness. The Glorious Qur’an says:
“And be ye not like those who forgot Allah, and He made them forget their own souls! Such are the rebellious transgressors!” [Al-Qur’an 59:19]
Islam’s Prohibitions – A Great Blessing
Islam recognizes the perils of such self-destructive behavior. While prescribing permissible ways of fulfilling certain legitimate desires, Islam clearly draws the line around certains types of behavior and strikes them at the root.
In the last five decades, pornography has been the cause of many a broken home, and multitudes of destroyed lives. By enjoining men and women towards modesty, the Glorious Qur’an protects the dignity of the human being. The Qur’an says:
“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.
And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms…” [Al-Qur’an 24:30-31]
Prayer and Fasting – Strenghthening the Soul with Patience
While every pillar of Islam serves to strengthen the soul, the five daily prayers and the fasting during the holy month of Ramadan are especially beneficial in disciplining the soul.
The Glorious Qur’an says;
“Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do.” [Al-Qur’an 29:45]
Fasting is universally recognized as a means of gaining self-control, and in Islam, also a means of gaining closeness to God.
“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn) self-restraint,”- [Al-Qur’an 2:183]
Prayer and fasting are therefore like the shields of the human soul, by which it can protect itself from the onslaughts of modern temptations, and lead a healthy, balanced and productive life.
Besides prohibiting behaviors that might demean the human soul in any way, Islam prescribes practical ways of strengthening it.
For the soul that values the sweetness of pine Remembrance, capitulating to the base desires represents disobedience to the Creator as well as oppression against the self. It is through recognition of the purpose of creation can the soul achieve true freedom.
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