Ibn Kath�r says: "The Mu'mineen are a people who have been prevented through the Qur'�n from indulging in the pleasures of this world; it comes between them and what might destroy them. The Mu'min is like a prisoner in this world, who tries to free himself from its shackles and chains, placing his trust in nothing in it, until the day he meets his Creator. He knows full well that he is accountable for everything that he hears, sees and says, and for everything that he does with his body."
[al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, vol. 9 pg. 276, Cairo 1352]
There are 2 kinds of people, one are those whose Nafs have overcome them and led them to ruin because they yielded to them and obeyed their impulses. The other kinds are those who have overcome their Nafs and made them obey their commands.
Nafs (pl. Anfus or Nufus) lexically means soul, the psyche, the ego, self, life, person, heart or mind. (Mu'jam, Kassis)
Although some scholars have classified the Nafs up to 7 stages, there is agreement among 'Ulam�' that in the Qur'�n, All�h (s.w.t.) has described at least 3 main types of the Nafs. And these are in rank from the worse to better: Nafs al-Ammara Bissu' (the Nafs that urges evil), Nafs al-Lawwama (the Nafs that Blames) and Nafs al-Mutma'inaa (the Nafs at Peace).
[Chapter 12 v. 53 in the Tafs�r of al-Tabari: Jami' al-Bay�n f� Tafs�r al-Qur'�n, 30 vols., Bulaq 1323 & also in Im�m Baghawi's Tafs�r: Lubab al-T�'wil f� Ma'�lam at-Tanz�l, 8 vols. Cairo, 1308]
A summary of these states of the Nafs are given by Imam Tabari in his Tafs�r of Surah Yusuf verse 53:
1. Nafs al-Ammara Bissu'
The Soul which Commands Evil
This is the Nafs that brings punishment itself. By its very nature it directs its owner towards every wrong action. No one can get rid of its evil without the help from All�h. As All�h refers to this Nafs in the story of the wife of al-Az�z (Zulaikha) and Prophet Y�suf (as): "The (human) soul is certainly prone to evil" (12:53).
All�h also says: "And had it not been for the grace of All�h and His Mercy on you, not one of you would ever have been pure; but All�h purifies whomever He wishes, and All�h is Hearing, Knowing."
[24:21]
This Nafs resides in the world of the senses and is dominated by earthly desires (Shahwat) and passions�.
Evil lies hidden in the Nafs and it is this that leads it on to do wrong. If All�h were to leave the servant alone with his self, the servant would be destroyed between its evil and the evil that it craves; but if All�h grants him success and help, then he will survive. We seek refuge in All�h the Almighty, both from the evil in ourselves and from the evil of our actions.
2. Nafs al-Lawwama
The Soul that Blames
All�h refers to this Nafs, "And I do call to witness the Nafs that blames" (75:2).
This Nafs is conscious of its own imperfections.
Hasan al-Basr� said, "You always see the believer blaming himself and saying things like 'Did I want this? Why did I do that? Was this better than that?' "
3. Nafs al-Mutma'inaa
The Soul at Peace
All�h refers to this Nafs, "O Self, in complete rest and satisfaction!" (89:27).
This Nafs is tranquil as it rests on the certitude of Allah.
Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) said, "It is the tranquil and believing soul".
Al-Qat�dah (radiAllahu anhu) said, "It is the soul of the believer, made calm by what All�h has promised. Its owner is at rest and content with his knowledge of All�h's Names and Attributes, and with what He has said about Himself and His Messenger