al-Nafs al-Lawwaamah - The Reproaching Soul

- By Ruh

بسم اللّٰه والحمد اللّٰه

والصلاة واسلام على رسول اللّٰه

Allah ﷻ says:

لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِيَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ١ وَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِٱلنَّفْسِ ٱللَّوَّامَةِ ٢

I swear by the Day of Resurrection, And I swear by the reproaching soul [to the certainty of resurrection].

- [Surah al-Qiyamah 75:1-2]

The Day of Resurrection is a reminder for us all of our accountability, a Day of great regret, as Allah ﷻ says:

وَأَنذِرْهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْحَسْرَةِ إِذْ قُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ وَهُمْ فِى غَفْلَةٍۢ وَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ٣٩

And warn them, [O Muhammad], of the Day of Regret, when the matter will be concluded; and [yet], they are in [a state of] heedlessness, and they do not believe.

- [Surah Maryam 19:39]

I understood the statement, "I swear by the reproaching soul" as a comment on the value of such a soul, that his reproach for his own actions would be a protection for him, a praised soul, so significant that Allah ﷻ takes an oath by it.

In Maarif ul-Quran it is mentioned:

Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas, Hasan al-Basri and others have expressed the view that Allah has sworn an oath by the self-reproaching conscience in order to show honour for the believing souls who take account of their deeds, regret, and feel sorry for their shortcomings and reproach themselves.

I was then exposed to an alternative Tafsir and I felt the Ayah brought the Surah to life in a very different way.

It is mentioned in Mawsū'ah at-Tafsīr al-Mathūr that Muqatil explains regarding this Ayah:

"Meaning, I swear by the disbelieving soul that blames itself in the afterlife, saying ⟪Oh, I wish I had sent ahead [some good] for my life.⟫ (89:24) and ⟪Oh [how great is] my regret over what I neglected in regard to Allah and that I was among the mockers.⟫ (39:56)"

So it is clear that the scholars had two views of what is meant by nafs lawwamah:

1. It is a praiseworthy soul, the soul that blames itself and regrets.

2. It is a condemned soul, a sinful soul. Those that held this view did not see this Ayah as an oath.

It is as though Allah ﷻ is addressing both souls, the soul that regretted in this life and the soul that will regret in the next, and their regret is all based around this promised Day. Depending on which soul we see the Surah through, the imagery changes. Both souls being highlighted, one soul regretting his actions and the states of his heart in this life, fearful of that Day, the other neglectful and in denial. One soul reaffirming his certainty of that Day and taking himself to account through its reminder, the other being told of the regret he will feel when his regret will no longer be of benefit.

أَيَحْسَبُ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ أَلَّن نَّجْمَعَ عِظَامَهُۥ ٣ بَلَىٰ قَـٰدِرِينَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّسَوِّىَ بَنَانَهُۥ ٤ بَلْ يُرِيدُ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ لِيَفْجُرَ أَمَامَهُۥ ٥ يَسْـَٔلُ أَيَّانَ يَوْمُ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ٦

Does man think that We will not assemble his bones? Yes. [We are] Able [even] to proportion his fingertips. But man desires to continue in sin. He asks, "When is the Day of Resurrection?

- [75:3-6]

An address for that condemned soul of what he denied, his claims that will bring him to the greatest regret. A reality the praised soul accepts due to which he regrets in this life, proclaiming with his tongue, heart and limbs, "I do not deny".

فَإِذَا بَرِقَ ٱلْبَصَرُ ٧ وَخَسَفَ ٱلْقَمَرُ ٨ وَجُمِعَ ٱلشَّمْسُ وَٱلْقَمَرُ ٩ يَقُولُ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَيْنَ ٱلْمَفَرُّ ١٠ كَلَّا لَا وَزَرَ ١١

So when vision is dazzled. And the moon darkens. And the sun and the moon are joined, Man will say on that Day, "Where is the [place of] escape?" No! There is no refuge.

- [75:7-11]

The condemned soul that denied this day in utter shock by this sight, lost and damned. The praised soul fearing this reminder, crying to Allah ﷻ, "In you we seek refuge from that Day".

إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ ٱلْمُسْتَقَرُّ ١٢ يُنَبَّؤُا۟ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ يَوْمَئِذٍۭ بِمَا قَدَّمَ وَأَخَّرَ ١٣ بَلِ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِۦ بَصِيرَةٌۭ ١٤ وَلَوْ أَلْقَىٰ مَعَاذِيرَهُۥ ١٥

To your Lord, that Day, is the [place of] permanence. Man will be informed that Day of what he sent ahead and kept back. Rather, man, against himself, will be a witness, Even if he presents his excuses.

- [75:12-15]

The condemned soul will not find any witness for him, but he will himself be against his own self, abandoned, in regret. The praised soul fearful of what evidences his limbs have gathered against him, taking himself to account before the Day of Account.

It is as though Allah ﷻ takes an oath by the praiseworthy soul that is certain of the Day of Resurrection, painting an image of the reality of that Day through the use of the condemned soul, as an example, creating imagery of what can be gained by regretting in this life and what is the end for those that will regret on the Day of Regret, when regret will have no benefit.

وُجُوهٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ نَّاضِرَةٌ ٢٢ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَةٌۭ ٢٣ وَوُجُوهٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۭ بَاسِرَةٌۭ ٢٤

[Some] faces, that Day, will be radiant, Looking at their Lord. And [some] faces, that Day, will be contorted,

- [75:22-24]

This is simply a reflection from someone ignorant, but I hope there is some benefit in it. Surely, all goodness is from Allah. All errors are from myself and the cursed shaitan. Allah, The Most High, is free from that.