THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SOUL (NAFS) AND THE SPIRIT (RUH)

ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SOUL (NAFS) AND THE SPIRIT (RUH):

"As for your question concerning the difference between the nafs and the ruh--many scholars have given extensive commentary on the subject but most of their words have not

been convincing or persuasive concerning the difference between the two--and there is not really a 'difference' between the two.

The spirit (ruh) is Lahuti, while the soul (nafs) is Nasuti; The nafs is Khalqi and the ruh is Amri; The world of the nafs is the lower world (dunya), the Mulk, the world of appearances, forms and bodies: it is that which can be percieved by the 5 outward senses of hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, and touching.

While the world of the ruh is the hereafter (akhira), the Malakut, the world of the unseen, of meanings, the Amr, the spirits and the inward realities: it is that which can percieved by the 5 inward senses of the intellect ('aql), the heart (qalb), the innermost mystery (sirr), the spirit (ruh), and the most hidden aspect of our being (khafi).

These two realms are what has been indicated in the Speech of Allah: "And to Him belongs the Khalq and the Amr" (Surah al-A'raf ayat 54); and His saying: "They ask you concerning the spirit. Say: 'The spirit is from the Amr of my Lord." (Surah al-Isra ayat 85).

Those who remain veiled (from the Real) suppose this reply to be obscure and elusive, but it is a very clear response (to those who know), so understand this well!

Ibn Abbas said: 'In the children of Adam is a soul (nafs) and a spirit (ruh). The nafs is that by which the intellect is able to make distinction and differention, and the ruh is that by which the breath and movement is actualized.'

The spirit of the human being is the Bearer of the Trust (amana), Divine Gnosis (ma'rifa) & Faith (iman); it is not eaten by the dust (at death), as Allah has prohibited the earth from consuming the bodies of the prophets, the truthful, and the righteous.

The spirit of animals does not bear the Amana, Ma'rifa or Iman, and the earth consumes its form. So the reality of the spirit (ruh) is that it is from the Amr of the Lord, and the realm of Amr is created out of nothing, while the world of Khalq is created out of something, as has been indicated (i.e., "He created everything from water.")

Allah is not created out of anything, and the first thing which He created before everything else is the Spirit of Muhammad (saw).

If you find some prophetic narrations (ahadith) mentioning the first things which Allah has created being the Angels, the Cherubs, the Pen, the Intellect, the Light, the Pearl, etc., know that all of these are only indications of the Spirit of Muhammad (saw), in as much as his attributes are as numerous as his names, but the named is one!

This should suffice as a reply."

~SHAYKH IBRAHIM NIASSE (ra), Jawahir ar-Rasa'il

{Interpreted from the Arabic by Muhammad Abdullahi}