Accordingly one must align the aql and nafs so that each are gearing positively in the right path, these two faculties need to be orchestrated vigilantly for this to transpire. The aql has been given to man so they can exercise their intelligence and reasoning to understand the Revelation given from God (Nasr, 1979). It is used to attain and absorb knowledge (Akhir, 2012). Gulen (2009) mentions how reason pursues light, a spiritual light, and therefore one gains aql. According to Nasr (1979) it is the Revelation that illuminates the light, which in turn sets intellect and reason in a person and permits it to function to its full potential. It’s crucial to go to depths of a spiritual nature, and permit the aql to absorb this light, which in turn will give its ability to decipher God’s Revelation. It is the aql that can make sense of how magnificent this universe has truly been created, or at least try to grasp that concept, by reading the Qur’an. As previously mentioned, the aql, part of the practical faculty is the source of man’s behaviour (Akhir, 2012). Hence, if it is disciplined towards its religious duties, it will not be led astray by other entities, like the nafs. The nafs cannot remain dormant in its lowest form, and should aspire to advance in good, which will in turn, sync itself with the aql, therefore be guided and disciplined to pray and remember God. Understanding these obligatory duties and practicing them are part of each Muslim’s positive spiritual journey. This will encourage the nafs in the right direction, deterring it from its ill feelings and desires, and both faculties can remain focused on what is truly fundamental in their spiritual journey (Gulen, 2009). One must aspire to cleanse the nafs so it can be of...
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...r mind. So I can say that the authors hypothesis was proven, that one who has intellect could overcome one who has intelligence or instinct.
Since the Medieval time period, philosophers have studied the diverse relationship between the soul and the human body. One philosopher in particular, Aquinas, argued that “the soul is interconnected with the body in such a way that without it, the human person cannot be complete” while Descartes argued that the two functioned independently (Viti 109). The novel, Heart of Darkness, and the book of poems called Native Guard proves Aquinas’ theory to be valid by highlighting the outward effect on the human body of the blurred line between morality and immorality as corruption and greed, two prevalent themes, take over. In both expositions, the weakening of one’s physical body represents the enduring moral struggle of one’s soul.
Tayob, A & Jeppie, S & Shaikh, S. eds. 2006. “To Love Every Life as Your Own: An Introduction to Engaged Sufism” in Journal for Islamic Studies: Thematic Issue: Engaged Sufism. 26. Cape Town: University of Cape Town. pp 1-11.
life everlasting . . . .” (217). Even if repressed, the human soul will eventually manage to
Tenzin, Gyatso and Jamyang Gawai Lodro. Essence of the Heart Sutra. Trans. Geshe Thupte Jinpa. Somerville, MA: Wisdom Publications, 2002. i-xii, 1-179. Print.
The Theology of the Body is a novel that contains numerous addresses, 129 to be exact, that are divided into cycles that focus on specific remarks made by Christ and allow for the reader to analyze them and draw their conclusions from scripture. These cycles also are accompanied with the opinion of the Blessed Holy Father John Paul II as he discusses his point of view along with Christ.
Latorre, M. (2000). A Holistic View of Psychotherapy: Connecting Mind, Body, and Spirit. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 36:2, 67-68.
On the Harmony of Religion and Philosophy gives us insight to the philosophical views of a certain sect of Islam, and how it influenced it 's followers to view the world around them. Although it is helpful, this is written from a very biased position and it cannot be said that the views of the author are the views of Muslim culture as a whole. There is a constant attack on another religious group throughout the article that helps us to understand what this specific sect deems right and wrong through comparison of the groups.
Khaleefa, O. (1999). Who are The Founder of Psychophysics and Experimental Psychology? American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences (16) 2.
Rahman, Fazlur. Islam & Modernity: Transformation of an Intellectual Tradition. Chicago: U of Chicago, 1982. Print.
Murata, Sachiko. "Sufi Teachings in Neo-Confucian Islam." Indiana University. N.p., 25 Apr. 2005. Web. 3 Nov. 2013. .
The relationship of the human soul and physical body is a topic that has mystified philosophers, scholars, scientists, and mankind as a whole for centuries. Human beings, who are always concerned about their place as individuals in this world, have attempted to determine the precise nature or state of the physical form. They are concerned for their well-being in this earthly environment, as well as their spiritual well-being; and most have been perturbed by the suggestion that they cannot escape the wrongs they have committed while in their physical bodies.
For this class we were provided with three different books to help us develop our understanding of the doctrine of God in the Christian faith and Muslim faith. Two of the books focused individually on the two faiths, and the third is how a Christian might explain and understand the Muslim faith from their perspective. The benefit of having all three of the works is that there is full coverage of all topics, including a valuable perspective from an Islamic scholar.
Jaoudi, Maria. Christian and Islamic spirituality: sharing a journey. Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 1993. Print.
Man is made of body, mind and soul. Life is not one thing; it is feelings, thoughts, backgrounds, contexts, moments, and memories. It cannot all be reduced down to a patch of light in the brain where some activity is going on. The vast landscape of intelligence can see through three distinct phases that together make visible the fields of intelligence: a childhood phase, an adolescent phase, and an adult phase. In the last few decades, spiritual intelligence has been increasingly recognized as an important aspect of human functioning, which demonstrates a robust but complex association to health and well-being.