Spirit, Conscience and Soul
(To the righteous soul it will be said:) “O (you) soul, in (complete) rest and satisfaction! Come back to your Lord,- well pleased (yourself), and well-pleasing to Him! (Al-Fajr, 27-28)
We are already aware of the two aspects of the soul: the one inspiring evil, and wicked deeds, and the other guarding against every inculcation of evil. The latter guides man to righteousness, as explained in the Qur’an. Allah breathed into him something of His spirit; this is the spirit, the conscience.
In Surat As-Sajda, Allah informs us about this:
He Who has made everything which He has created most good: He began the creation of man with (nothing more than) clay, and made his progeny from a quintessence of the nature of a fluid despised: But He fashioned him in due proportion, and breathed into him something of His spirit. And He gave you (the faculties of) hearing and sight and feeling (and understanding): little thanks do you give! (As-Sajda, 7-9)
As long as the individual follows the voice of his conscience, he will be like a model displaying the attributes of Allah in his personality.
Man's concience is in compliance with all the commandments of Allah. Two verses in the Surat Ar-Rum are quite explanatory:
No, the wrong-doers (merely) follow their own lusts, being devoid of knowledge. But who will guide those whom Allah leaves astray? For them there will be no helpers.
So you face steadily and truly to the Faith: (establish) Allah’s handiwork according to the pattern on which He has made mankind: no change (let there be) in the work (wrought) by Allah: that is the standard Religion: but most among mankind do not understand. (Ar-Rum 29-30)
According to the verses, unbelievers go astray by following their own lusts.What believers, on the other hand, must do is to follow the religion Allah communicates to man through revelation. This religion offers a life style which is most suitable tho the nature of man and his conscience, that is, to the spirit Allah has breathed into him.
- Introduction
- Idolatry
- Oppression (Fitnah)
- The two aspects of the soul
- Those who take vain desires and passions as God
- Spirit, conscience and soul
- Heart, wisdom and intelligence
- Men of understanding and the facts that hinder wisdom
- Wisdom and sentimentalism
- Sources of wisdom
- Heedlessness and attention
- Acting upon conjecture
- Loyalty and obedience
- Determination
- Perseverance
- Righteous deeds
- Giving thanks to Allah
- Not pursuing personal benefits
- Brotherhood and solidarity
- Modesty and arrogance
- Trust in Allah and submission
- Praying for forgiveness and repentance
- Prayer