Verse 3
The Resurrection • makkah
View Aspects
Commentary:
The Quran has mentioned three stages of development of the human soul. The first stage is called النفس الامارة i.e. the uncontrollable spirit or the spirit prone to evil, when the animal in man is predominant.
The second stage is that of النفس اللوامة i.e. the self-accusing spirit, when man begins to be conscious of evil, that is, when his awakened conscience upbraids him for doing bad deeds and restrains his passions and appetites. In moments of weakness of the flesh, in this stage, he may falter or fall, but will not perish, every failure bringing with it a fresh reproach and repentance. The human in man gets the upper hand in him. It is the beginning of his spiritual resurrection. النفس اللوامةhas been cited here in evidence of the Final Resurrection. If man has no responsibility, if he has not to account for his deeds in an afterlife, why this pricking of conscience at the doing of an evil deed?
The highest stage of development of the human soul, however, is that of النفس المطمئنة i.e. the spirit at rest. At this stage the human soul becomes practically immune to failure or faltering and is at peace with its Creator.
The Qur’an has mentioned three stages of development of the human soul. The first stage is called Nafs-e-Ammarah (the uncontrollable spirit), when the animal in man is predominant. The second stage is that of Nafs-e-Lawwamah (the self-accusing spirit), when man’s awakened conscience upbraids him for doing bad deeds and restrains his passions and appetites. At this stage the human in man gets the upper hand. It is the beginning of his moral resurrection and therefore has been cited here in evidence of the Final Resurrection. If man has no responsibility, and if he is not to account for his actions in an afterlife, then why this pricking of conscience at the doing of an evil deed? The third and the highest stage of development of the human soul, however, is that of Nafs-e-Mutma’innah (the soul at rest). At this stage the human soul becomes practically immune to failure or faltering and is at peace with its Creator.