In this verse of the Quraan Sharif, Allah Ta'ala mentions Nafs-e-Mutma’innah. Prior to this, in the 13th Para another category of Nafs is discussed which is referred to as Nafs-e-Ammarah.

وَمَا أُبَرِّىءُ نَفْسِي إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ إِلاَّ مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّيَ إِنَّ رَبِّي غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

(Although innocent, Yusuf A.S said out of humility,) “I do not absolve myself (of all fault). Surely the soul insistently commands (a person to do) evil, except (the souls of those people) on whom Allaah showers mercy (people such as the Ambiyaa). Undoubtedly my Rabb is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

The body is composed of two things, namely the body which we may refer to as the Nafs and the Rooh which is referred to as the soul. The body is made from the things of the world, which is primarily sand and water. As long as the Rooh is within a person, everything functions perfectly, but the moment it departs from the body, everything becomes motionless.

Allah Ta'ala states,

كَلَّا إِذَا بَلَغَتْ التَّرَاقِيَ وَقِيلَ مَنْ رَاقٍ

Never! (This world can never be preferred over the Aakhirah, especially because people have to leave the world and everything in it behind when they die. Death is that time) When the soul reaches the collar-bone and it is said (by those around the dying person,), “Who can cure (save) him?”

تَرْجِعُونَهَا إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

return the soul (of a dead person to his body) if you are truthful (in your claim that things will happen as you wish and not as the Ambiyaa inform you) ?

CARDIOLOGISTS

There was a pious Muslim cardiologist that would perform two Rakaats of Salaah prior to surgery and give out Sadaqah. When he bent down to operate on a patient, he happened to die of a heart attack. On one occasion, the world’s best cardiologists had met to discuss certain issues, and a particular cardiologist was appointed as the most senior amongst them in the world. During the very same meeting he had a heart attack and died.          

In order to maintain and treat the body there are hundreds of hospitals in the Gauteng area, to keep the body fit there are hundreds of sport stores, there are thousands of furniture stores for servicing the body, thousands of stores selling kitchen utensils, stores selling hunting accessories, fishing tackle, cosmetic stores, etc. We all agree that the Rooh is more important than the body yet there are hardly any hospitals for the Rooh which is referred to as the Khanqah. If the Khanqahs do exist, they are not fully functional. The Khanqahs generally operate only in Ramdaan or when there is a monthly or weekly programme. If a hospital operates once a week only, or once a month, or just once a year what will happen to the patients that require treatment?

In the medical world, we have a number of specialists with different titles attending to one particular limb or organ of the body. In the dental department we have a dentist, orthodontist, and perhaps a few higher qualifications as well. There are different doctors for the ears, eyes, nose, muscles, veins, joints, heart, liver, kidneys, etc. The sicknesses pertaining to the soul are much worse than the sicknesses of the body.

If a person doesn’t treat his physical ailments, the worst that can ever happen to him is that he will have to face death, where the illness will terminate. On the other hand, if a person died without treating his spiritual illnesses, such as dying with pride, or committing adultery without repenting, or whilst indulging in various forms of intoxicants, what will be one’s condition in the grave? The problem doesn’t end when a person leaves the world as in the case of physical illness, rather the problem only commences.

PURPOSE OF ISLAAHI JALSAS

The purpose of the Islaahi Jalsas, Ijtimas, Jumuah lectures is supposed to direct one’s attention towards the importance of treating and maintaining the Rooh. The Sahaaba of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam had made an effort on the Rooh and perfected the Rooh. During the battle of Yarmouk, Hadrat Khalid bin Walid R.A. was the Ameer of the Muslim Jamaat. The enemies had prepared a troop of 60 000 soldiers who were well trained and skilled in warfare whilst the Sahaaba were untrained. However, the Sahaaba had worked on their Rooh, changed their focus of life, paid particular attention and placed their trust on the things of the unseen more than focussing their attention to material means.

Hadrat Khalid R.A proceeded with an army of 30 soldiers to fight an entire army of 60 000 soldiers. He was advised to take along a further thirty soldiers, which left him with an army of 60 soldiers which is at a ratio of 1 soldier to 1000 soldiers of the Kuffar. We as Muslims whilst sitting in the Masjid will even say that these figures can never gel, and such a battle can never be won.

When the general of the enemy seen these Sahaaba approaching, he thought that perhaps they have come to enter into a peace agreement, as they do not possess the numbers to combat us. This led the general to ask Hadrat Khalid bin Walid R.A. whether he has come to enter into a peace agreement. Hadrat Khaild R.A immediately drew his sword from his sheath and said, “I declare war.” The war commenced and lasted the entire day resulting in the Kuffar being defeated by the evening. Majority of the enemies were killed whilst the remainder fled the battlefield. The loss of Muslim lives was minimal with five or six Sahaaba being blessed with martyrdom. Another five or six Sahaaba were captured by the enemies and taken as prisoners of war. The Muslims decided to negotiate with the Kuffar and thereby secured the release of these soldiers.

On this occasion, Hadrat Khalid bin Walid took along a hundred soldiers to meet the enemies. The enemies had laid out a silken carpet to receive him. He told his companions to remove the carpet as he was not prepared to walk on a silken carpet. The general of the army said, “This was spread out in your honour.” Hadrat Khalid R.A. said, Allah Ta'ala says, “We have spread out the earth (as a carpet), what great carpet makers We are!” This is the result of making effort on the Rooh.

Anyway, in the 13th Para, we learn of Nafs-e-Ammarah. Just a point from my side, perhaps after one third of our life passes, we realise that our Nafs commands one to commit sin excessively by nature. Thereafter, a great deal of effort is required and the Nafs moves one stage up to a higher level whereby it becomes Nafs-e-Lawwama. This is mentioned in the 29th Para, so after making an effort for 16 Paras then the Nafs progresses to the next stage. This is when the Nafs starts taunting itself. This is when the Nafs tells a person, what evil are you involved in whilst in privacy, yet you act so pious? If there was a screen in front that played our past, what would have been our condition? If the condition of our Salaah was played, then what would the condition of our Salaah been? On the day of Qiyaamah, our entire life’s Aa’maal will be played on the big screen before mankind. Parents will see what their children were up to in the world, the children will see the actions of their parents, everything will be exposed except for those that repent for their evil actions. We should made Dua to Allah Ta'ala to convert all our evil deeds into good deeds.

THE SECOND STAGE OF NAFS

After taunting oneself, the Nafs moves to the stage of Mutma’inna. When one reaches this level, he leaves the world after much Taubah and repentance. This stage is normally reached towards the end of a person’s life. Indeed, fortunate are those that are blessed with such Taubah. Therefore, we shouldn’t deceive people with our outward piety, as we have a long way still to go.

If the Nafs progresses to the stage of Mutma’inna during one’s lifetime, then this is Jannat in this world. After death, such a person will enjoy Jannat in the hereafter. How hasn’t Allah Ta'ala explained this in the Quraan Sharif,       

يَا أَيَّتُهَا النَّفْسُ الْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ ارْجِعِي إِلَى رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةً مَّرْضِيَّةً فَادْخُلِي فِي عِبَادِي وَادْخُلِي جَنَّتِي

“O contented soul! Return happily to your Rabb while He is pleased with you. Enter among My (chosen) bondsmen and enter My Jannah.”

Allah Ta'ala says that a person should enter upon his servants, those that taught you the love of Allah, such people are referred to as the servants of Allah, and finally Allah Ta'ala says, “Enter into My Jannat.” We are now approaching the blessed month of Ramadaan. We should not waste our time, rather spend time in the company of some Ahlullah, Khanqah, go in Jamaat, but do no waste our time. May Allah Ta'ala bless us with Taufeeq. Ameen!