What does the term 'Nafs-e-Lawama' refer to in Islamic teachings?

Explanation

In Islamic teachings, the Quran mentions three stages of the Nafs (self/soul): Nafs-e-Ammara (the soul that commands evil), Nafs-e-Lawama (the self-reproaching soul that blames itself for wrongdoing), and Nafs-e-Mutmainna (the soul at peace). Nafs-e-Lawama is a higher spiritual stage where a person recognizes their sins and feels genuine guilt, prompting them toward repentance. This concept is derived from Surah Al-Qiyamah (75:2), where Allah swears by the self-reproaching soul.

Good to know

The term Nafs-e-Lawama appears in the Quran in Surah Al-Qiyamah (75:2): "And I swear by the self-reproaching soul." Islamic scholars describe it as an intermediate stage of spiritual development where the conscience is awakened and the individual struggles between good and evil, feeling remorse after committing sins. It is considered a sign of living faith (Iman) because the believer's heart is not hardened to wrongdoing.

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