RUMI'S SEVEN SPIRITUAL STAGES AND THE NAFS

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RUMI'S SEVEN SPIRITUAL STAGES AND THE NAFS


The inner mystical dimension of Islam, Sufism, is one of the most widespread spiritual Islamic notions.


Jalal Al-Din Al-Rumi claims that there are seven phases every soul should undergo to acquire what he calls the Oneness.


The first stage is the DEPRAVED NAFS; in other words, the corrupted inner self that blames its surroundings for its own constant despair. According to Rumi, most people are entrapped in this stage, unable to move forward, as it is the most common stage for all humans. 


If the person grows aware of his soul’s false egotistical nature, he then will be ready to work on himself, and start blaming it instead; sometimes to the point of self-effacement. This stage is called the ACCUSING NAFS or laying charges against one’s own self, where an inner purification takes place. 


The journey that the soul travels within is key essential to evolving into the third stage: the INSPIRED NAFS , where the person becomes more knowledgeable and patient, yet humble. The reason why Rumi called it Inspired is that the world now seems full of inspirational signs.


The Valley of Wisdom is what comes next, or as Rumi calls it: the SERENE NAFS. In this stage tranquillity takes hold, where an excessive level of consciousness is reached, acknowledging generosity, having a higher sense of gratitude and accepting the suffering nature of life.


Further on, the Valley of Unity is situated, where the human is content and satisfied by any circumstances God placed him within. The aforementioned stage is called the PLEASED NAFS ,


... which is followed by PLEASING NAFS. In the Pleasing Nafs stage the person becomes the main source of energy to everyone around them, like a candlelit providing light and knowledge; rather like an idol to be followed and imitated. 

Serving God through helping others becomes one’s main concern. 


Finally, in the seventh stage, the individual effectuates the PURIFIED NAFS, where one’s soul becomes perfect. Hence perfection belongs only to God, no one knows much about this stage, as it is only reached by prophets and their followers.


~ Ola el wassify

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