n-f-s

Description

The Arabic root نفس (n-f-s) carries the core meaning of self, soul, or life-force, representing the essential being of a person including their inner desires, consciousness, and vital existence. In the Quran, this root appears in various forms to address the human soul's relationship with God, moral accountability, self-discipline, and the struggle between one's higher spiritual nature and lower desires. The root's significance lies in its emphasis on individual responsibility, as the Quran repeatedly calls believers to purify their souls, restrain base impulses, and recognize that each self will be held accountable for its own actions on the Day of Judgment.