QUESTION:
May I please get an explanation/interpretation on the “Rooh” and “Nafs”?
ANSWER:
The word ‘Nafs’ is used for various things. Similarly, the word ‘Rooh’ can be used for various things. At times they indicate towards the same things, and at other times they indicate towards different things.
‘Nafs’ is also used for the ‘Rooh’, but it is mostly referred to as ‘Nafs’ when joined to the body. When it is on its own (without the body), then the word ‘Rooh’ is used more.
The word ‘Nafs is in the meaning of ‘Rooh’, and in the meaning of the reality of something or the form of something. The Nafs has numerous qualities and specialities, hence it has the ability of loving and disliking someone, the ability of seducing and whispering to one, the ability of making an intention and firm determination to do something, as it directs a person towards good, and taunts it upon doing evil.
In conclusion, it seems that generally both ‘Nafs’ and ‘Rooh’ refer to the same thing. When the soul is attached to the body, then it is termed as Nafs, and when separated on demise then it is referred to as Rooh.
النفس والروح هل هما متغايران أو مسماهما واحد، فالتحقيق أن النفس تطلق على أمور، وكذلك الروح، فيتحد مدلولهما تارة ويختلف تارة، فالنفس تطلق على الروح، ولكن غالب ما تسمى نفساً إذا كانت متصلة بالبدن، وأما إذا أخذت مجردة فتسمية الروح أغلب عليها، —- والنفس الذات كقوله تعالى: {فَسَلِّمُوا عَلَى أَنفُسِكُمْ} [النور:61] ، وقوله: {وَلا تَقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ} [النساء:29] ونحو ذلك.
النفس في اللغة بمعنى الروح ، و بمعنى ذات الشئ وحقيقته. وردت في القرآن الكريم في مواضع عديدة ، وتعددت معانيها بحسب السياق . ولهذه النفس صفات وخصائص كثيرة ،فهي تحب وتكره ، وتسول وتوسوس ، وتنوي وتعزم ، كما ترشد صاحبها الى طريق الخير وتلومه على فعل الشر ، ولها آثار ظاهرة في السلوك الإنساني . (الأثر الاجتماعي لتعلم القران الكريم علي الفرد والمجتمع ص5 ج1)
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date:- 22 Rabi-ul-Aakhir 1445 / 07 November 2023
