THE NAFS (AN-NAFS)
Ontology, Disorders, and Therapeutic Orientation
within the Holistic Odyssey Framework
The Ontological Reality of the Nafs
The Nafs represents the experiential self of the human being.
It is the inner domain where impulses, desires, fears, habits, emotions, and internal conflict arise.
The Nafs is not the Spirit.
Nor is it the body, the heart, or the mind.
It emerges from the interaction between the Spirit and the body.
From the light of the Spirit and the density of the body, the Nafs is formed as the field of testing, struggle, and growth.
In its nature, the Nafs is dynamic and changeable.
It is capable of elevation and refinement, as well as regression and imbalance.
It is neither inherently pure nor inherently corrupt — it becomes what it is trained to become.
The Nafs is the arena of moral responsibility, self-discipline, and inner work.
Through it, the human being experiences desire, resistance, weakness, effort, and transformation.
The Role of the Nafs within the Human System
Within the integrated human system, the Nafs functions as the mediator between higher intention and embodied behavior.
It translates inner states into action.
It responds to emotion, thought, memory, fear, attachment, and desire.
When regulated, the Nafs becomes cooperative, disciplined, and aligned.
When neglected, it becomes reactive, conflicted, and unstable.
The Nafs directly influences:
Emotional regulation
Behavioral patterns
Motivation and will
Self-image and identity
Psychological resilience
For this reason, imbalance in the Nafs often manifests as psychological or emotional disturbance before any physical symptom appears.
Common Disorders of the Nafs
Imbalance within the Nafs expresses itself through recognizable patterns that affect daily life, relationships, and inner stability.
1. Disorders of Ego and Self-Inflation
Excessive self-importance
Narcissistic tendencies
Entitlement and superiority
Inability to accept correction
Extreme sensitivity to feedback
These patterns create inner rigidity and block growth.
2. Disturbance in Self-Relationship
Chronic self-dissatisfaction
Excessive self-criticism
Persistent feelings of inadequacy
Fragile self-worth
Internal conflict and instability
Here, the individual becomes divided against themselves.
3. Cognitive and Thought-Related Disturbances
Overthinking
Mental rumination
Obsessive doubt
Persistent suspicion
Inability to quiet the mind
Magnification of problems
Though often mistaken as purely “mental,” these patterns are deeply rooted in the Nafs.
4. Emotional Instability
Anxiety
Inner tension
Chronic fear
Persistent sadness
Non-clinical depressive states
Mood fluctuation
These states indicate imbalance in emotional regulation rather than pathology alone.
5. Reactive and Interpersonal Dysregulation
Quick anger
Irritability
Emotional outbursts
Poor impulse control
Relationship tension
The Nafs reacts before wisdom intervenes.
6. Disturbance of Motivation and Will
Loss of drive
Psychological lethargy
Procrastination
Avoidance
Weak resolve
Here, energy is present but misdirected or blocked.
7. Attachment and Dependency Patterns
Excessive emotional attachment
Fear of loss
Psychological dependence
Difficulty with autonomy
These patterns drain inner strength and clarity.
8. Inner Emptiness and Disorientation
Sense of inner void
Loss of meaning
Confusion
Disorientation
Absence of direction
Often misinterpreted as existential crisis, this reflects deep imbalance within the Nafs.
How Imbalance in the Nafs Affects the Human Being
When imbalance in the Nafs persists without regulation, it does not remain isolated.
Over time, unresolved inner conflict affects:
Emotional stability
Decision-making
Relationships
Spiritual consistency
Physical well-being
Stress, anxiety, compulsive behavior, emotional exhaustion, and psychosomatic symptoms often originate here.
Without addressing the Nafs, attempts at healing remain fragmented and temporary.
Therapeutic Orientation for the Nafs
Healing the Nafs does not mean suppressing it.
Nor does it mean indulging it.
Healing the Nafs means regulation, discipline, and refinement.
Within the Holistic Odyssey framework, work with the Nafs is grounded in:
Conscious self-awareness
Ethical responsibility
Structured discipline
Gradual inner training
Regulation of the Nafs restores balance between impulse and wisdom, desire and intention, emotion and clarity.
Therapeutic Support and Practice
When imbalance of the Nafs is identified, guided support becomes necessary.
Within Holistic Odyssey, therapeutic work with the Nafs may include:
Structured remembrance practices
Regulated spiritual recitation (ruqyah as supportive regulation)
Personal guidance for self-discipline
Practices of grounding, reflection, and intentional behavior
Gradual reorientation of habits and inner patterns
Ruqyah is not isolated from this process.
It is integrated as part of regulation, protection, and stabilization — never as spectacle or dependency.
All support is offered with discretion, ethical responsibility, and long-term guidance.
Spiritual Assessment and Guidance
Not every emotional or psychological difficulty originates from the same source.
Accurate assessment is essential.
Within Holistic Odyssey, evaluation is conducted through structured consultation — in person or remotely — based on sincerity, readiness, and responsibility.
This process determines whether imbalance is primarily rooted in:
The Nafs
The Heart
The Mind
The Body
Or a combined systemic pattern
Only after proper understanding does therapeutic direction begin.
From Regulation to Inner Orientation
If the Nafs is the field where impulses, desires, fears, and inner conflicts arise,
then where does sincerity emerge?
How does intention become pure — or distorted?
Why do some actions appear correct outwardly yet remain hollow inwardly?
And how does emotional attachment shape spiritual growth, clarity, and imbalance?
The regulation of the Nafs is necessary, but it is not sufficient.
Beyond discipline lies orientation.
Beyond control lies sincerity.
Beyond behavior lies the inner center that gives actions their meaning.
This center is the Heart.
To understand how emotions, attachments, love, fear, sincerity, and inner truth shape the human being,
we now move deeper into the human system —
from the Nafs to the Heart.
Contact
info@holisticodyssey.com
Location
Rotterdam – Coming Soon