THE MEANING OF TAZKIA NAFS

THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE IN THE COSMOS

Everything existing in this cosmos  that possesses dimensions of length, width and depth and develops as per the demands of its nature is regarded as 'living'.  

It is in Quran -  تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا  (Meaning - "The seven heavens (skies) and the Earth, and all beings therein, invoke (glorify - declare)  His praise; there is not a single thing but invokes His praise; And yet you do not understand their invocation  of His praise! Verily He is Oft-Forbearing, Most Forgiving." ( Bani Isra’il – 44).  

The above verse clearly states that every thing in this cosmos is busy in praying Allah ( سبحانہ و تعا لی ) and doing His Zikr.

The life  is associated with soul, and not with the body.  This is the reason, when soul is taken away from our body, our body cannot move or talk. Allah ( سبحانہ و تعا لی ) says in the above verse that everything in this Cosmos is doing His  Zikr or Praise, therefore, the meaning of this verse is,  "from a tiny molecule to the magnanimous heavens, all are provided with individual souls.  

How souls get associated with their respective bodies?

It is in Quran - (When Adam's -  علیھ السلا م - body was created, Allah - سبحانہ و تعا لی  says ) "I breathed something (into it) out My soul (Al-Hijr - 29).

It is in Quran - وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ ۖ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي (Meaning - They ask you (O'Prophet -  صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) concerning the Soul. Say "the Soul is the command of my Lord (Bani Isreal -  85).

In the same manner when  different molecules in this Cosmos mingle and develop into specific shapes, this results in the evolution of specific natures. Once these natures are developed, corresponding souls are associated with them.

The souls of compounds and mixtures rule over the souls of  their  individual molecular contents.

When molecules of matter mingle with each other in various proportions, specific mineral natures are developed.  Corresponding souls,  then get associated with each of these minerals.

Natures of metals like iron, gold, silver are different, therefore, their souls are different. When different elements mix with each other in various proportions, specific natures are developed.  Like brass which is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.

In the same way, botanical mixtures or compounds become totally different from their elements.   Like trees, which develop growing and reproductive capacity. Some of these trees develop food contents in them, like fruits, flowers, and therefore, specific souls are associated with them as per their exigencies.

Over a period of time, some of these formations develop movement and sensing capabilities. These are known as animals. Once these capabilities are developed, corresponding animal souls are associated with them that rule the souls of all their elements and compounds.

When we look at an animal, like cow, we know that it is a combination of the physical body of cow and its commanding soul which commands fractional souls of its body parts.    

Similar is the case with other things in this Cosmos.  Like, human being is the combination of the human body and its commanding soul which commands the fractional souls of human body parts.

When we ponder over the evolution of this cosmos or the evolution of our planet Earth, we realize that,  first the earth was a fire ball, it gradually cooled down, then vegetation developed, then came animals and Jinnies and in the end human beings inhabited the globe.

THE MEANING OF TAZKIA NAFS 

Souls are the source of life, but are invisible.   Human soul or any soul  associated with anything in this cosmos is not visible and cannot be perceived.  However,  it can be felt and interacted when it is associated with a  body.

It is in Quran  - ‘On that Day (of Judgment) no question will be asked of man or Jinn as to his sin’. (Ar-Rahman – 39).

The meaning of the verse is, on the Day of Judgment, questions will not be asked from people as to what sins they committed. The souls of their limbs and other body parts’ will speak to Allah ( سبحانہ و تعا لی ) and inform Him of the sins they committed.  Allah  ( سبحانہ و تعا لی ) knows the language of every soul created in this cosmos. The stomach will say what wrongful and prohibited food was consumed by it. The eyes will say what prohibited things were witnessed by them and hands and legs will say what wrong doings they committed.

Islamic scholars (Ulema-e-Zaher) cannot comprehend these facts. Therefore, they say that Allah ( سبحانہ و تعا لی ) will  give tongue or make every part of the body talk only on the Day of Judgment as a special case.  

It is in Quran – ‘Verily, the ear and the eye and the heart – every one of them shall have to answer for, in regard to the way it has functioned’ (Bani Isra’il – 36).

The above verse does not say that Allah ( سبحانہ و تعا لی ) will make human body parts to talk only on the Day of Judgment.  It says that every part has to answer for its function.  

It is in Quran -  تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا  (Meaning - "The seven heavens (skies) and the Earth, and all beings therein, invoke (glorify - declare)  His praise; there is not a single thing but invokes His praise; And yet you do not understand their invocation  of His praise! Verily He is Oft-Forbearing, Most Forgiving." ( Bani Isra’il – 44).  

The above verse clearly states that every thing in this cosmos is busy in praying Allah ( سبحانہ و تعا لی ) and doing His Zikr.  This means that everything is provided with a specific soul in accordance with its nature and exigencies.

When we are hungry, we feel cramps in our stomach and urge to eat. What is this urge? Did you ever try to think about that?

The stomach’s soul is shrieking and demanding the ruler - human soul to provide food urgently. The stomach does not care what kind of food you provide. It will demand the best, like fried chicken, burgers, soft drinks, ice creams, etc.

If you provide all these items in excessive quantities regularly, the stomach, and eventually the whole human body may become fat and sick. The stomach also demands hot prohibited drinks (wine) and prohibited food. It is the job of the human soul to stop the stomach soul from demanding prohibited food. We cannot understand the languages of souls of various parts of our body.   

It is in Quran –  وَمَا أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا  ( Meaning - You have been given very little knowledge’. (Bani Isra’il – 85).

But we have been provided with sensory knowledge and know what are the demands of various parts of our body.

Some exclusive Awliya Allah are provided with this knowledge and they can communicate with the souls of their body parts.  These issues cannot be understood in theory.  You need to learn and experience  them under the guidance of an experience Shaikh-e-Tareeqah.

It is in Hadith  - Narrated Ibn `Umar (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) who said: The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) used to deliver his sermons while standing beside a trunk of a date-palm. When he had the pulpit made, he used it instead. The trunk started crying and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) went to it, rubbing his hand over it (to console). (Bukhari).

It is in Quran - وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَائِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّا أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم ۚ مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الْكِتَابِ مِن شَيْءٍ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ  ( Meaning - And there is no animal that walks upon the earth nor a bird that flies with its two wings but (they are)  species  like yourselves; We have not neglected anything in the Book, then to their Lord shall they be gathered. (Al-An'aam - 38).

Human soul is provided with intelligence to understand and deduce things.  All fractional souls associated with our body parts are animal souls. They have limited intelligence and limited sensory elation and sorrow as that of animals.

What are sensory and un-sensory perceptions?

Sensory Perception

The capacity to sense virtue and evil; happiness and sorrow, imagination and intention is given only to human soul. Therefore, it is made responsible for all action of the body and is also subjected to torment or recompense depending upon its deeds.

Un-sensory Perception

Un-sensory perception is away from the feelings of joy and sorrow. The souls of animals and other things in the cosmos do have knowledge and partial sensitivities but they do not enjoy the common sense to decide between virtue and evil, therefore they are not subjected to torment or recompense. The souls of human body parts are covered in this category.

Many a times, human soul gets bogged down under the wrongful influences of animal souls of human body parts.   It was supposed to be the master of all souls.  But, in reality it becomes slave of these souls. That is the reason some human beings involve in all kinds of evil activities, like murder, rape, usurpation of fundamental rights of others and creating discord and hatred in human society. To such people, we say, they are behaving like animals. Indeed, they are not just animals, they are beasts who will do anything to get petty pleasures.

What is human soul?

It is supreme authority appointed by Allah ( سبحانہ و تعا لی )  on all animal souls of human body parts. The human soul gets pleasure  in  Allah's  ( سبحانہ و تعا لی ) obedience.   Love, sacrifices and servant hood are its crowns. Its food is Allah’s  ( سبحانہ و تعا لی ) invocation (Zikr).   Powerful human souls can efficiently manage the subordinate souls of their body parts. When human souls become more powerful, they are referred to as  ‘Satisfied souls’.

It is in Quran -   يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ - ارْجِعِي إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً -  فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي  وَ ادْخُلِي جَنَّتِي  (Meaning ‘ O’ Satisfied Soul, which is at rest and satisfied, return to your Lord, well pleased and well pleasing and enter my Heaven’. (Al-Fajr – 27- 28).

When human soul becomes content and powerful, it becomes the friend of Allah  (Awliya Allah or Sufi Shaikh of Ihsan).

There is always struggle for supremacy between the animal souls of body parts and the master soul of the human being.

What happens to a country whose central government becomes weak?   It gets disintegrated and faces anarchy in the country.

Similarly, what happens when our human soul becomes weak?   The management of the human body gets destroyed and human being dies of dreaded ailments or by a police bullet or spends most part of life behind bars.

Why this happens?  It is because the ruler cannot guide the subordinates to walk on the right path and the subordinates start doing as they like, and become victims of diseases (like HIV/Cancer) or in view of their irrational behavior in society, either spend their time in jails or die of police bullets.

What is Nafs (Anima) ?

Influence of all animal souls of the body parts together is referred to as 'Nafs' which is translated in English as 'Anima'.

When the human soul gets bogged down and submits to the animal souls of human body parts, this state is known as Villainous Anima (Nafs-e-Ammara).

When, during the struggle for supremacy, sometimes the human soul wins and sometimes animal souls of human body parts win, this state is known as ‘Conscious Anima’ (Nafs-e-Lawwama).

When human soul finally wins the struggle and controls the unlawful demands of animal souls of human body parts, this state is known as ‘Satisfied Anima’ (Nafs-e-Mutma’inna).

Meaning, under the command of human soul, all animal souls of human body parts also get rational and stop demanding unlawful pleasures. This is the state which has been referred to in the Quranic verses (Al-Fajr – 27- 28) mentioned above.

It is in Hadith – Prophet MUHAMMAD (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said our major Jihad is with our ‘Anima’ (Nafs).

This Jihad (fight) is continuous throughout our lives. This means that the human soul should not allow unlawful demands of animal souls of human body parts. This is a continuous struggle through out our lives.

One more issue is important in this context. We cannot question about the nature and exigencies of a creature.  Like, if someone questions why tiger is meat eating animal and goat is a grazing animal?   These are individual natures and exigencies (necessities).  If tiger is fed food grains, it may get sick and most probably die as food grains are against its nature. Similarly, if the goat is fed meat, it may not survive because it is against its nature.

Similarly, we should not get frustrated in thinking why certain human beings are involved in all kinds of evil activities in the world in spite of repeated warnings. These are all their individual natures.

Allah ( سبحانہ و تعا لی ) created human beings, provided them with  intelligence, required knowledge and free will. Therefore they are expected to use these faculties as per the commandments of Allah ( سبحانہ و تعا لی ).  If they act against this exigency, they will be subjected to torment (azab).

As far as intelligence or common sense is concerned, people can be divided into the following three categories.

Superior – those whose nature is elevated, they pay attention towards their natural and elevated instincts and carry out virtuous deeds easily and, as such, success and leadership is associated with them.

Average - those who get their virtuous objectives in the guidance of the superior persons, in their leadership, in their following and within their shield, with a little effort and hard work on their part.

Ordinary – those who are with inferior nature, never come to the right path, even if they are explained repeatedly by superior nature person.

The nature of Prophets and Apostles is such that they have natural conformity with the spiritual world.   It is in their natural disposition that they take from Allah ( سبحانہ و تعا لی ) and give to His servants. They listen from the truthful Being (Allah –  سبحانہ و تعا لی ) and transfer back to His creatures.

It is in Quran -  اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ حَيْثُ يَجْعَلُ رِسَالَتَهُ  ( Meaning - Allah -  سبحانہ و تعا لی  knows it well who is capable for Apostleship) . ( An-A’am - 124).

Virtuous souls, like the family members of Prophet MUHAMMAD (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) his companions and Imams of various Islamic fields, reach to the elevated states in closeness with Allah (سبحانہ و تعا لی) in the guidance and with assistance of Prophet MUHAMMAD (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم).

Similarly, Shaikhs of Ihsan, who are described in Quran as 'friends of Allah (Awliya Allah)'   get guidance from the teachings of Sahabah  under direct supervision and training of their Shaikhs. This authentic teaching lineage reaches to Prophet MUHAMMAD (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) in historically recorded document called Spiritual Chain or Shajra. This documentary evidence is preserved by all truthful Muslims as an evidence of authenticity of their Islamic believes.  The people who have not studied Islam under an authentic Shaikh of Ihsan, who are not an anklet of an authentic spiritual chain, it is very difficult for them to walk on the Straight path of Islam.

Salafis and their like minded groups claim that they will learn Quran and Ahadith not from Shaikhs, but by independent individual study. They say that they follow the "Salaf" the first generation Sahabah after Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم). 

How can someone learn directly from Sahabah (رضئ اللھ تعالی عنہم اجمعین ) after 1350 years, when they are not physically available to teach?  In this case, you will have to depend on books. And we all know, we cannot learn by idependent study of books. If this was the case, no one would have gone to a school or university to learn various subjects. 

We can understand it by a simple example.

(1) If someone claims that he is an engineer, then he has to provide proof of his education from an authentic university. If he shows proof that he had studied engineering from MIT or IITs, and qualified in the prescribed examinations, then his claim will be upheld by others.

The above example is of a person who has studied Islam under an authentic Shaikh of Islam. His qualification will be acceptable in this world and in Hereafter and he stands a chance of getting salvation on the Day of Judgment in view of his truthful beliefs and virtuous deeds.

(2) Alternatively, if the person shows his engineering degree from an infamous university, people will regard his education as incomplete or even deceptive. People may not say anything openly on his face, but will know that his statement is partially untrue.

The above is the example of a person who has studied Islam under a fake Shaikh or Murshid. His Islamic beliefs will be suspicious.

(3) Suppose a person comes and informs that he is an engineer and tells that he had not studied engineering under any teacher or university and has acquired engineering knowledge from reading engineering books available in the market. Then people will call him crazy because they know that knowledge cannot be acquired only by reading books.

The above is the example of a person who has fallen victim to the misguided sects who propagate that Islam can be studied directly from Quran and Hadith books, and that people need not be trained under the watchful eye of Truthful Islamic teachers for their tazkia (purification of heart).

This strange and  rebellious logic was first developed by Ibn Taymiyyah, the founder of Salafism. 

It is in Quran – ‘And if they believe not in this declaration (Islamic  Testimony – Shahadah), it does not follow that you, O’Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) should not vex yourself to death by going after them. (Al-Kahaf – 6).

It is in Quran ‘ You (O’ MUHAMMAD -  صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم ) cannot guide everyone you like (to the desired objective), but Allah (SWT) guides whom He will. And He is Best Aware of those who walk aright (who can follow guidance). (Al-Qasas – 56).