The Theme of The Nafs in Mystical Literature: Interpretations and Commentaries

This article examines the interpretations and commentaries of the concept of the nafs in mystical literature, taking as its basis the works of Abu Abdurahmon Sulamiy, Ibn Sina, Al-Qushayri, and Ali Hujwiri. The nafs is a central category that expresses the inner world of the human being, spiritual desires, and moral struggle, and in Eastern mystical thought it holds significance not only from an ethical perspective but also in philosophical and Sufi terms. The methodology of the article is based on the methods of historical-comparative analysis, hermeneutic interpretation, textual studies, and conceptual analysis. The results of the study demonstrate that the concept of the nafs appears in  various forms of spiritual maladies,  as a philosophical-psychological concept, and in the works of and as the central element of mystical spiritual wayfaring (suluk). Thus, the theme of the nafs has provided a comprehensive theoretical and practical foundation in Sufi literature for explaining the spiritual and moral perfection of the human being. The findings of this research make it possible to study Eastern mystical literature and Sufi thought more deeply, as well as to illuminate the concept of the nafs on a scholarly basis in contemporary spiritual and ethical studies.