jumma mubarak everyone!!
A Hadith of Rasul (SAW) says that,
“Whosoever knows himself knows his Lord.”
“Man 'arafa nafsahu faqad 'arafa Rabbahu”
This particular Hadith is highly focused, qualified for achieving and realizing closeness to Allah (S). What is meant by the idea of “knowing oneself” to achieve a close relationship with our Creator? What are the various entities of ourselves and the requirements of knowing oneself?
On examination of the Hadith, it communicates the design, way or method of knowing oneself through the understanding of knowing Allah.
Allah makes it clear in Surah 50 Al Qaf, Verse 16 that:
“It was We Who created man, and We know what dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.”
This verse illustrates and beautifully explains the position of our relationship and the closeness to our Creator which must be realized for our guidance and transformation.
To be closer than the “jugular vein” relates to the core and the nature of ourselves. Let us examine the entities within ourselves to achieve and discover this close proximity to our Creator, the Lord of the heavens and the earth.
The Entities of the Self
We have a body, encompassing the various organs, senses and cognitive faculties which are guiding principle for our awareness and development. Although these faculties are foundational and guiding instruments, they are not sufficient for realizing a higher transcendental, contented and spiritual individual.
When one observes oneself, one sees a lower base self or nafs al Ammara bis-soo, which is always in anguish to please the desire and the material aspect of the self. This soul is inclined towards evil.
The Noble Quran describes this self in Surah 12 Yusuf, Verse 53:
"Nor do I absolve my own self (of blame): the (human) soul is certainly prone to evil, unless my Lord do bestow His Mercy: but surely my Lord is Oft- forgiving, Most Merciful."
This lower instigating self follows its whims that is disruptive and can progress to a self-reproaching or blaming soul which is called nafs al Lawwama.
The Glorious Quran in Surah 75 Al Qiyamah (The Resurrection), Verse 2 describes nafs al Lawwama:
“And I do call to witness the self-reproaching spirit”
Sheikh Ibn Ata’illah Iskandri (R) a spiritual master of the Shadhiliyyah Sufi Order (Tariqa) who lived in Egypt in the 13th Century A.D (died 1309) tells us that these two levels and the lower character of these nafs are not close to Allah (S) and are not accepted by Him.
