“I am surprised at one who takes charge of reforming the...

“If your aspiration rises to reform the people, then start with your self, because your mission to reform other than yourself while you are corrupt is the greatest of deficiencies.”[^5] Imām ‘Alī (as) is reported to have said: مَنْ لَمْ يُصْلِحْ نَفْسَهُ لَمْ يُصْلِحْ غَيْرَهُ. “Whosoever does not reform himself would not reform others.”[^6] The Reality of Self-Reform Having understood the fundamental requisite of self-reform, let us now try to understand its reality.

What is ‘ islāh al-nafs ’ (self-reform) in its real sense? As understood earlier, the word ‘islāh’ stands for ‘effecting equilibrium [in an entity].’ Therefore ‘Islāh al-nafs’ would mean ‘effecting equilibrium in the soul.’ And when does a soul enjoy its equilibrium? To respond to this query we must understand the basic faculties of our souls.

The soul of the human being possesses the following three main faculties: 1- The Reality of the Intellect ( al-quwwat al-’aqliyyah ) 2- The Faculty of Desire ( al-quwwat al-shahwiyyah ) 3- The Faculty of Anger ( al-quwwat al-ghadabiyyah ) If the faculty of intellect does not deviate towards the directions of excess ( ifrāt ) or negligence ( tafrīt ) and the faculties of desire and anger are subservient to the faculty of the intellect, the soul would enjoy its equilibrium.