The Doctrine of Nafs (the Self)

The Doctrine of Nafs (the Self)

It is a Satanic cell and navel point is its abode. All the Prophets and Saints sought refuge from its mischief. Its diet is phosphorus and bad odour, which is also found in bones, coal and cow dung. All religions insist on a proper bath after copulation because unpleasant odour releases through skin pores during sexual activity. Malodorous drinks and animal meat also are prohibited for consumption.

On the day of Azal (Primordial), all souls in front of God up to the mineral souls, became acquainted with each other and united. The man, inspired by the mineral soul in him, built homes from stones. And he made roofs of homes with the wood of trees, inspired by the botanical soul in him. He benefited himself from the cool shadows of the trees also. The trees provided him with pure oxygen. Bio-spirits from the rear row that became animals in this world were declared lawful for consumption by the man. In addition to these the birds from the same category also were made lawful for consumption.

On the left side, were created Jinns and infernal spirits, followed by evil spirits, which, in the end, became God’s enemies. And the animal, botanical and mineral spirits that appeared from behind evil spirits developed enmity against human beings. Mineral spirits from this category caused the ashes of Earth to turn into coal, the gas from which was harmful for human beings. The botanical spirits from this category brought into existence dangerous, thorny and man-eating trees. With the animal spirits from this category, man-eating animals and beasts were created. And the birds from the same category, owing to their attribute of enmity against human beings, were declared as unlawful. These birds can be recognised by their trait of eating food with their claws. The souls at God’s right were appointed as servants to human beings, message-carriers and helpers. The man was elevated in eminence above all, and was appointed as God’s vicegerent. Now it depends on the man, his willingness, efforts and fate whether he accepts the vicegerency or he rejects it.

In dreams, the Nafs leaves the body, and joins evil gatherings of the Jinns, in the person’s guise. Nafs is accompanied by the Khannas. It resembles an elephant. It sits in between the Nafs and the Qalb (the heart). It assists the Nafs to misguide the man. In addition to this, yet another four birds also get clung to the four souls of the breast, to misguide the man. For example, the cockerel is clung to the heart (Qalb), which causes lust to prevail in the heart. With Dhikr Qalb (invocation of the heart) the cockerel is cleansed of lust, hence, it begins to differentiate between prohibitions (haram) and permissible (halal). This is known as a Secured Heart (Qalb-e-Saleem).

The crow is clung to Sirri, and Sirri is afflicted by greed. The peacock is clung to Khafi, and Khafi is afflicted by jealousy. The pigeon is clung to Akhfah, and Akhfah is afflicted by stinginess. The traits of these birds compel the souls of the breast to adopt greed and jealousy, until the souls are enlightened. These four birds were taken out from Abraham’s body, purified and placed back in his body. After the demise of purified individuals, these birds begin to dwell on trees. Individuals who spend certain amount of time in jungles for austerity learn to imitate the voice of these birds; as a result of which these birds become familiar with them, and they help them with healing minor diseases.

An Important Anecdote:

Nafs belongs to the Satan.

All the five souls of the human breast are related to the five Grand Prophets respectively. Ana belongs to God.

Similarly, the body is related to the Perfect Spiritual Guide.

Whichever soul is not connected with the concerned, is deprived of its spiritual grace.

1. The Subtlety of Qalb

The Prophet-hood and the knowledge concerning Qalb was granted to Adam Safi Allah

The fleshy heart is known as ‘Dil’ in Urdu, and ‘Fawwad’ in Arabic. The spiritual faculty clung to the physical heart is known as Qalb. The Prophet- hood and knowledge pertaining to the faculty of Qalb was granted to Adam. According to a Prophetic Tradition, ‘The heart is different from the faculty of Qalb.’ This phenomenal world is known as Nasut (the Terrestrial Realm). Besides this, there are other realms also such as Malakut (the Realm of Angels), Ankabut (the Realm of God’s Throne), Jabrut (the Realm of Souls, ‘Station of Gabriel’), Lahut (the Realm of Nothingness), Wahdat (the Realm of Divine Unity) and Ahdiyat (the Realm of Divine Oneness).

These realms and the creatures thereof pre-existed the explosion of the spheroid of fire in the Terrestrial Realm of Nasut. The angels and the souls were created simultaneously, however, the archangels and the subtleties of the breast (Lata’if) already existed in these realms. Subsequently, creatures inhabited many planets in the Realm of Nasut. Some of the planets have been annihilated, and the rest await their end. The archangels and the subtleties of the breast were created seventy thousand years prior to the Command, ‘Be’ of the souls. Qalb was kept within the Place of Love, and through Qalb man is supposed to be connected with God. Similitude of Qalb is like that of the telephone operator between man and God. Man receives the divine reason and revelation through Qalb.Footnote: a Dalil (the divine argument/reason) is always accompanied by Ilhaam (inspiration). Ilhaam is not authentic if it is not accompanied by a Dalil.

The worship of all the subtleties of the breast (Lata’if) reaches the empyrean of God (Arsh-e-Bala) through Qalb. However, Qalb does not have access beyond the Realm of Malakut. Its destination is Khuld. Its mode of worship, and its method of saying the rosary both lie within the human anatomy. Those that earned paradise but were unaware of this inner worship would regret it in the paradise, because God says, ‘Do they perceive that God would equal them with the pious ones?’ Because those with the enlightened Qalb would continue to remember in the paradise. Footnote: Khuld is the lowest grade of the paradise.

Worship of the body ends after demise. The unenlightened subtleties of the breast including the Qalb would either stay weak or decay in the graves. The enlightened and powerful ones would enter the place of Il’liyeen. Subsequent to the Day of Judgement, new bodies will be given to all; these subtleties along with the human soul will be placed in the bodies of Immortal Saints (who saw God in the phenomenal world). Those who managed to revive their subtleties and remembered God in this world, would remember God in the hereafter also; consequently, their level and ranks would be constantly promoted. Those whose hearts were blind here, they would remain blind in the hereafter also. This phenomenal world is the place of practice for deeds and actions. So, they would become stagnant in terms of performance of good deeds. The Christians, the Jews and the Hindus also are aware of the subtleties. The Hindu term for the subtleties is ‘Shaktiyaan-Indaryaan’, and the Muslim term for them is ‘Lata’if’.

Qalb is located on the left of the heart two inches away, and its colour is yellow. Consequent to its revival, man begins to observe and feel yellowish light in the eyes. Some spiritual mentors also heal people with colours. Most people regard the counselling of their heart to be truthful.

The Qalb of a common man is senseless (Snobar). Its counselling may be influenced by its naivety, the Whisperer (Khannas) or the Self (Nafs), therefore, it may err in judgement. Reliance on a Qalb-e-Snobar (Senseless Heart) is folly. When the heart is revived with God’s remembrance, it begins to differentiate between good and bad, and gains sensibility. This is known as Qalb-e-Saleem (the Secured Heart). Due to the abundance of God’s remembrance, it is turned and directed towards God. This is known as Qalb-e-Muneeb (the Heart Turned to God). It is able to prevent the man from the committance of vice, however, it still lacks the power of correct decision. It turns to Qalb-e-Shaheed (the Witnessing Heart) when God’s Light begins to fall upon it. A Prophetic Tradition relates, ‘Divine Merciful Sight descends upon broken hearts and broken graves.’ At this moment, undoubtedly, submit to whatever comes from the heart, as theophanies turn Nafs also into Mutma’inna (the Divinely Content Self). God is then closer to him than his jugular vein. At this stage, God then declares, ‘I become his tongue, with which he speaks, and I become his hands with which he holds.’

2. The Human Soul

The Prophet-hood and the knowledge concerning the soul was granted to Abraham

The human soul is near to the right side of the breast. It is awakened by loud chanting and visualisation of God’s name upon it, consequently, a throb like movement becomes prominent at it also. The name ‘Ya-Allah’ is synchronised with this subtlety. Now two subtleties are engaged in God’s remembrance; such a person’s spiritual status is greater than that of those who only revive their heart. The soul is dark red in colour, revival of which renders access to the Realm of Jabrut. Wrath and anger are attached to it, which transform into majesty by the divine heat.

3. The Subtlety of Sirri (Secret)

The Prophet-hood and the knowledge concerning Sirri was granted to Moses

This is located between the left side of the breast and the centre of the chest. It is revived by loud chanting and visualisation of the name ‘Ya Hayyu, Ya Qayyum’. Its colour is white. It reaches Lahut (the Realm of Nothingness), through dreams and spiritual journey. With the addition of this subtlety, now three of them are engaged in God’s remembrance and the rank of such a person is further increased.

4. The Subtlety of Khafi (Arcane)

Its Prophet-hood and knowledge was granted to Jesus Christ

This subtlety is towards the right of the breast from the centre of the chest. It is revived by loud chanting of the name ‘Ya Wahid’. It is green in colour. It reaches Wahdat (the Realm of Divine Unity). Now four of them are engaged in God’s remembrance and the rank of such a person is further increased.

5. The Subtlety of Akhfah (Obscure)

Its Prophet-hood and knowledge was granted to Mohammad

This subtlety is in the centre of the chest. It is revived by loud chanting of the name ‘Ya Ahad.’ It is violet in colour. It also is related to the veil in the Realm of Wahdat (the Realm of Divine Unity), behind which is the throne of God.

The knowledge of the five subtleties of the breast was granted to the five Grand Messengers categorically. Half a portion of the knowledge of each subtlety was transferred to the Saints from these Grand Messengers. There were thus ten parts of the esoteric knowledge, and the Saints then transmitted this knowledge to the elite. The knowledge of the exterior, the physical body, and utterance of the tongue all relate to the Realm of Nasut and the Nafs. This is for common folks. Its knowledge is stored in scripture which has thirty chapters. The esoteric knowledge also was granted to the Prophets through revelation (Wahee). Hence, it is also known as ‘The Esoteric Scripture’. Sometimes the esoteric knowledge would slip out of Mohammad’s tongue in public that which was confined to the elite only, therefore, some of the verses of the Koran would later be abrogated. This inner knowledge was practised and carried on from one heart to another in the chain of Saints. Now, this knowledge has been made accessible to the common folks also, through books.

6. The Subtlety of Ana

It is located in the head, and is colourless. Dhikr (Remembrance) of ‘Ya Hu’ is its culmination. It, having gained spiritual strength, reaches and sees God unveiled, and manages to speak with God. This is the station of Divine Lovers. Besides this, some of God’s Favourites are also conferred on them other special divine spirits such as Tifle-e-Noori (Spirit of God’s Light) and Jussa-e-Tawfeeq-e-Ilahi (Spirit of God). Understanding such elites is beyond the power of intellect.

Through the subtlety of Ana, God can be seen in dreams. Through the Jussa-e-Tawfeeq-e-Illahi (Divine Sub-spirit), God can be seen in Transcendental Meditation (Muraqibah). And those that possess Tifl-e-Noori (God’s image gifted to the elite of the elite, which are only seven in total, and they are known as Sultan al Fuqra) see God in the state of consciousness.

The world knows them as ‘The Might of God’. They may, on their accord, convey anyone to the Maqam Mehmood (the Station of Praise and Glory) either through worship, austerities, or through their merciful glance. Believer or disbeliever, dead or alive, matters not in their eyes. Just as a thief became a Saint with a single merciful glance of Abdul Qadir Jilani. Abu Bakar Hawari and Mangha Daku also became Saints following a glance from such elites.

All five of the Grand Messengers were, categorically, given knowledge pertaining to the subtlety they belong to, hence, spirituality continued to grow in strength and quality. Whichever subtlety you will revive and engage with God’s remembrance, you will deserve to obtain grace of the concerned Grand Messenger, and will be connected with him. Whichever subtlety comes under the theophanies of God, you will be granted Sainthood concerning that particular subtlety. Access to the seven realms and acquisition of different grades in the seven paradises are also through the subtleties of the breast.

Functions of Subtleties in the Human Body

Subtlety of Akhfah (the Obscure):

It enables the man to speak; without it, the man is mute (lacking the faculty of speech by birth) even with a sound tongue. The difference between man and animal is on account of these subtleties. If the subtlety of Akhfah does not enter the body at the time of birth for any reason, bringing it in the body was the duty of the concerned Messenger. Then, the mute would begin to speak.

Subtlety of Sirri (the Secret):

It enables man to see. In case this subtlety is absent in man at the time of birth, he is confirmed blind. Bringing it into the body was the duty of the concerned Grand Messenger. The sight, then, is restored to the blind men also.

The Subtlety of Qalb (the Heart):

If this is absent in the body, similitude of the man is like that of an animal; unacquainted with God, and distant from Him. He lacks sentiments and hunger for God. The task of bringing it back into the body was assigned to the concerned Grand Messengers only. Later, the wonders and miracles of the Prophets in form of saintly marvels were granted to the Saints also. As the missing subtlety is returned to the body through a Prophet or a Saint, even the deaf, the mute and blind are healed.

The Subtlety of Ana:

The man is mentally impaired due to its absence in the body, even if the nerves of the brain seem to function normally.

The Subtlety of Khafi (the Arcane):

Its absence in the body leaves the man deaf, even if all the ear holes are opened wide. Physical flaw also shows a similar syndrome; in which case, it is curable. However, medical help does not serve the purpose in case the concerned subtleties are absent in the body, unless a Prophet or a Saint extends his help.

The Subtlety of Nafs (the Self):

Through Nafs the human heart is inclined towards the world and its contents; whereas the subtlety of Qalb steers the man towards God.