The Heart, the Nafs, and the Soul — Finding Balance Within
Why Do I Feel Pulled in Different Directions?
Some days, I felt torn in three ways at once:
- My soul longed for stillness with Allah.
- My heart carried anxiety and sadness.
- My nafs pulled me into distractions I knew weren’t helping.
It made me wonder: Why can’t I just feel whole?
The Qalb (Heart)
The heart is where faith and feelings live. It can feel tight, heavy, or restless. And yet, with dhikr, gratitude, and duʿā, it can also feel soft, light, and reassured.
The Prophet ﷺ would often make this duʿā: “O Turner of the hearts, keep my heart firm upon Your religion.” (Tirmidhi)
Even he reminded us that hearts shift — and that’s okay.
The Nafs (Self)
The nafs is the part of us that craves ease, comfort, or escape. Left unchecked, it drags us down. But gently guided — through fasting, service, and reflection — it learns to serve what’s good for us.
I often notice my nafs when I’m tempted to scroll instead of pray, or avoid what I know would heal me. Instead of shaming it, I’m learning to guide it with compassion.
The Rūḥ (Soul)
The soul is pure, always connected to Allah. But sometimes it feels hidden when the heart is heavy or the nafs is restless. When we return to salah, Qur’an, or silence with Allah, the soul’s light begins to shine through again.
Balance Is Gentle
Balance isn’t about perfection. It’s about small, tender steps that slowly realign us with Allah.
One moment of dhikr, one deep breath with duʿā, one act of patience — all of these slowly weave the heart, self, and soul back into harmony.