Soul

“O, Soul At Peace! Come back to your Lord well-pleased (yourself) and well-pleasing (unto Him)! So join My servants and enter My Paradise!”
— Quran 89:27-30

Welcome to one of the most intriguing topics we will explore—Soul. The soul, or “rooh” in Islam, is fascinating precisely because it is the least understood part of us. Unlike the body, which we can see and touch, the soul is something we cannot touch or see. Yet, that it is a fundamental part of who we are.

Soul: The Driver of Our Journey

So, we have established the body as the car, the mind as the dashboard that guides, and the heart as the engine. When inspired by faith, the heart becomes the headlight, illuminating our path. But what about the soul? Where does it fit into this Life Journey analogy?

The Dual Nature of the Soul

The soul has two aspects—the upper self, which we often call the spirit, and the lower self, commonly known as the ego. The soul, in this analogy, is the driver—the actor that controls the entire vehicle. This is how it should be, according to the teachings of Islam. The soul should be in charge, leading the body, mind, and heart in the right direction.

Islamic Perspective on Freedom

When we talk about freedom, it’s important to understand that Islam frames it differently from the Western perspective. Western society often emphasizes the “freedom of the self,” promoting the idea of obeying your desires, following every urge, and indulging in the whims of the ego—“obey your thirst,” they say. But Islam offers a different paradigm: true freedom is the freedom of the soul.

The Ego’s Place: A Child in the Backseat

The ego, or nafs, must be put in its rightful place. Imagine it as a small child sitting in the back of your car, strapped securely in a car seat. You cannot get rid of it entirely, nor should you—it’s a part of who we are. The ego has needs that must be met, but it should never take control of the vehicle. It should be managed, disciplined, and put in a position where it doesn’t disrupt the journey.

The Soul and Ego: Two Sides of Our Inner Reality

Next, we’ll dive deeper into the two dimensions of our inner being—the upper self (the soul) and the lower self (the ego). Before we get into the specifics, it’s important to understand the two realms that the soul can occupy according to Islam.

The Two Realms: Fitrah and Ghaflah

The soul can be found in either of two states:

Fitrah: This is the soul’s natural state—its original, awakened disposition. When the soul is in this state, it is connected to Allah, acting in harmony with its true purpose.

Ghaflah: On the other hand, it represents a state of heedlessness or spiritual sleep. It’s not physical sleep, but a kind of disconnection from one’s spiritual purpose. The ego thrives in this realm, steering us away from our higher calling.

The Three States of the Soul

Between these two realms, the soul can exist in one of three different states based on the Quran, the teachings of Imam Ghazali as well as Islamic Psychology. Understanding these states helps us identify where we are on our journey and how we can progress toward inner peace:

Nafs al-Mutma’inna (The Soul at Peace)
This is the highest state of the soul—a state of tranquillity and contentment. It’s the state where the soul is aligned with Allah’s will, experiencing peace and serenity. It’s the destination we strive for on our journey.
Nafs al-Lawwama (The Self-Reproaching Soul)
Somewhere between the soul at peace and the commanding soul lies Nafs al-Lawwama. This is the state of the self-reproaching soul—one that is conscious of its shortcomings and feels guilt or remorse when straying from the right path. This state represents an inner struggle, but it’s also a hopeful stage, as the soul strives to correct itself and move closer to Allah.
Nafs al-Ammara bil-Su (The Commanding Soul)
At the other end of the spectrum, we have Nafs al-Ammara bil-Su, the lowest state of the soul, which inclines toward evil. This is when the soul is overpowered by the ego, leading us to act on desires and impulses that are disconnected from our higher purpose.

The Self-Reproaching Soul (Nafs al-Lawwama)

Most of us exist in the state of Nafs al-Lawwama, the self-reproaching soul. This is the phase where we’re trying our best—we do good, we slip, and then we turn back to Allah, seeking His forgiveness. It’s a cycle of rising and falling, a wave that goes up and down, repeatedly. This constant struggle signifies our effort to grow, to recognize our mistakes, and to keep trying. It’s a journey marked by both setbacks and sincere repentance.

The Evil-Inclined Soul (Nafs al-Ammara bil-Su)

Now, let’s talk about the other extreme—the Nafs al-Ammara bil-Su, the soul inclined to evil. When I was a child watching cartoons, I often wondered, how do people become so evil? As I grew older, and especially through the lens of Islamic teachings, I understood that no one becomes wicked overnight. It’s a gradual process of losing sensitivity to right and wrong.

The Slippery Slope of Indifference

It begins with small actions and indifference. You make a mistake, and if you do not hold yourself accountable, you start to not care. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) explained that every sin leaves a black dot on the heart. When you seek forgiveness, your heart becomes polished again, regaining its purity. But if you ignore the sin, those black dots accumulate until the heart becomes covered, and eventually, the spiritual heart no longer shines—your guiding light goes dark.

A Locked Heart and a Dark Path

When this happens, your heart gets locked, your mind becomes blocked, and you begin to walk in darkness. You lose the clarity needed to navigate life, and, tragically, even though you try to fulfill yourself, nothing brings satisfaction. This discontent leads many to seek to escape through harmful behaviours like smoking, drugs, or alcohol—temporary distractions that only deepen the darkness.

Seeking Refuge from This State

This is the most dangerous state we could fall into, and we ask Allah SWT to protect us from it. This is why, as Muslims, we’re asked to pray five times a day—to regularly recalibrate, to check in with ourselves, and to remember our direction and purpose. These moments of prayer are our opportunity to renew, cleanse the heart, and stay connected to our true path.

The Soul at Peace (Nafs al-Mutma’inna)

Now, let’s shift gears and talk about the opposite state—the soul at peace, or Nafs al-Mutma’inna. To understand this state, let me share an analogy from one of my favourite movies, The Matrix. At the end of the first movie, Neo, the protagonist, doesn’t just see the agents anymore; he sees the green code behind everything. He finally understands the reality—that the world he is in is just a simulation. With this awareness, Neo becomes powerful enough to manipulate his surroundings, effectively becoming Superman.

Seeing Through the Illusion

Similarly, as Muslims, we are reminded by Allah that this life is a temporary reality, a test, a kind of simulation. Everything that happens here is by His will. Once we grasp this truth—not just intellectually, but deeply in our hearts—our perspective changes. We begin to see beyond the apparent challenges and blessings, recognizing that everything comes from Allah. This deep realization brings us to a state where we can genuinely say, Alhamdulillah ‘ala kulli haal—“All praise is due to Allah in every situation.” Whether something seemingly good or bad happens, we know that it’s from Him, and we respond with gratitude or patience, knowing it’s ultimately for our growth.

Living in a State of Peace

The soul at peace is in constant alignment with this understanding. If something good happens, it says, Alhamdulillah. If something challenging occurs, it still says, Alhamdulillah, recognizing that even in trials, there is a purpose and an opportunity to grow. The soul understands that nothing bad reaches us except what we earn and that even these challenges are tests from Allah meant to purify us.

Balancing the Spiritual and the Worldly

Of course, I’m not suggesting that we become monks or live in isolation from the world. We’re meant to be in the world, to work, to contribute, to make our mark. The key question is: How do we carry this peaceful state of the soul while engaging with the world? That’s what we’ll discuss next.

Discipline: Mastering the Self

Before moving on to the next stage of our journey, let’s talk about three important concepts. The first one is discipline.

Disciplining the Soul and Ego

One of the main objectives of the soul is to take control—to be the leader, the actor, and the one directing our actions, putting the ego in its rightful place. Discipline is key to ensuring that the ego remains where it belongs—secured in the back seat, with the soul firmly in the driver’s seat.

Fueling the Body and Nourishing the Mind

Discipline starts with understanding the purpose of food. Food is primarily fuel for your body to keep it healthy, and taste comes second. When it comes to your mind, discipline means choosing useful thoughts and beneficial information over mere entertainment. It’s about prioritizing what benefits us most.

The Heart and Emotions

The heart often gets carried away by emotions. Discipline involves using the soul and the mind to guide these emotions, to resist doing only what feels good at the moment. Sometimes, the best path is not the one that brings instant comfort, but the one that leads to growth.

Salah: The Discipline Tool

To help us achieve discipline, Allah has already provided us with a powerful tool—Salah (prayer). Salah is our five-times-a-day check-in, ensuring that we stay focused on our journey towards Him. When I was younger, I used to think that Salah was something optional, something I’d do when I felt like it, or perhaps when I got older. But now, I understand it’s like driving to a destination.

The GPS of Life

When you’re driving, you don’t simply rely on your instincts to reach a new destination which you have never been to before; you use a map or GPS. Similarly, Salah is your GPS in life. It’s a structured tool meant to discipline us, not just an emotional or spiritual experience we engage in when we feel inspired. Sure, there may be moments of spiritual elevation, but Salah is primarily about consistency, about setting our internal compass toward Allah.

Discipline, then, begins with Salah, aligning the Body, Mind, Heart, and Soul in a consistent pursuit of our journey’s goal.

Priorities: Putting Things in Order

The goal of the soul is to put everything in its rightful place. As the driver, the soul must make wise decisions, and for that, it must keep the ego in check—strapped in the back, like a child. Never let the ego roam free, and certainly never let it sit in the driver’s seat, as it would lead to a crash. Prioritizing correctly is key to maintaining control on this journey.

Freedom of the Soul

The soul’s purpose is to free itself from the shackles of worldly distractions. Unlike Western ideals, which glorify the freedom of ego-driven desires, Islam speaks about the freedom of the soul—to strive for growth, to ascend, and ultimately to return to its divine origin.

Allah breathed His spirit into Adam, and by extension, each of us carries a spark of the divine. The soul desires to reunite with its Source, to find peace in submitting to the divine flow. This is the true freedom that the soul craves.

Our task is to let the soul flourish, to align our desires with the will of Allah, and to submit happily to Him. The journey continues as we now explore our Purpose in life, who we truly are, our Passions, and how we can use these to travel the Path towards the Most High.

I’ll see you in the next chapter, where we dive into purpose and its meaning.

Goals:
On a scale of 1 to 10, how you evaluate your Soul?
What are your Soul goals to achieve 10?

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Beliefs:
What are your beliefs about your Soul?
What is holding you back to achieve 10 out of 10?

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Motivation:
Why does it matter to achieve these goals?
What happens if you do? What happens if you don’t?

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Methods:
What is your plan to achieve your Soul goals?
What simple steps can you take today?

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Reflective Questions

What are your goals for your soul? Reflect on the type of soul you want to cultivate. Is it a soul that’s at peace, content with Allah’s decree?
Why do you want this for your soul? Understanding your motivations will help you stay committed to the path of spiritual growth.
How will you get there? Write down the steps, no matter how small, that you will take to nurture your soul. Consistency is key.

Dua
O Allah, help us purify our Soul and make it content with Your decree. Grant us the strength to overcome our ego and guide our Soul to be at peace with You and everything You send our way. Let our Soul shine brightly, reflecting Your light, and guide us on the path that leads to You. Ameen.