ن ف س n-f-s
نَفْس
nafs / tanaf-fasa / yatana-fas
(lit., something essential to one's own being such as their soul or breath, which they would strive to keep)
Definition
- 1تَنَفَّسَtanaf-fasa(for the morning) to breathe (hence, coming into being)1
- 2يَتَنَافَسyatana-fasto strive (to be the best of oneself, or to take something for oneself)2
- 3نَفْسnafsone's own being, self, soul, or life295
Total uses in the Qur’an: 298
Qur’anic usage
Sense 1
تَنَفَّسَ
وَٱلصُّبْحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ
And by the day as it breaks!
81:18draft glosses: 3 of 3
Sense 2
يَتَنَافَس · الْمُتَنَافِسُونَ
وَفِى ذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَتَنَافَسِ ٱلْمُتَنَٰفِسُونَ
So let whoever aspires to this strive diligently.
83:26draft glosses: 4 of 4
Sense 3
نَفْس / النَّفْس / النُّفُوس / نَفْسٍ / نَفْسًا · نَفْس / نَفْسَهُ / نَفْسِهِ / نَفْسِهَا / نَفْسَهَا · نَفْسِك / نَفْسَكَ / نَفْسِكِ / نَفْسِي · النُّفُوس / نُفُوسِكُمْ · الْأَنْفُس /الْأَنْفُسِ /أَنْفُسَهُمْ /أَنْفُسِهِمْ /أَنْفُسَهُنَّ /أَنْفُسِكُمْ /أَنْفُسَكُمْ /أَنْفُسَنَا /أَنْفُسًا
إِلَّا حَاجَةًۭ فِى نَفْسِ يَعْقُوبَ قَضَىٰهَا
It was just a desire in Ya'qub's soul which he fulfilled.
12:68draft glosses: 6 of 6
ٱلنَّفْسَ بِٱلنَّفْسِ
... a life for a life.
5:45draft glosses: 2 of 2
تَعْلَمُ مَا فِى نَفْسِى وَلَآ أَعْلَمُ مَا فِى نَفْسِكَ
You know what is 'hidden' within me, but I do not know what is within You.
5:116draft glosses: 9 of 9
يَوْمَ لَا تَمْلِكُ نَفْسٌ لِنَفْسٍ شَيْئًا
'It is' the Day no soul will benefit another whatsoever.
82:19draft glosses: 6 of 6
مَّنْ عَمِلَ صَٰلِحًۭا فَلِنَفْسِهِۦ
Whoever does good, it is to his own benefit.
41:46draft glosses: 4 of 4
وَإِذَا ٱلنُّفُوسُ زُوِّجَتْ
And when the souls 'and their bodies' are paired 'once more' ...
81:7draft glosses: 3 of 3
رَّبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِى نُفُوسِكُمْ
Your Lord knows best what is within yourselves.
17:25draft glosses: 5 of 5
مَا تَشْتَهِيهِ ٱلْأَنفُسُ
... whatever the souls desire.
43:71draft glosses: 3 of 3
اللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْأَنْفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا
'It is' Allah 'Who' calls back the souls 'of people' upon their death.
39:42draft glosses: 5 of 5
وَلَا تَقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ
And do not kill 'each other or' yourselves.
4:29draft glosses: 3 of 3
وَجَٰهَدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ
And they strived with their wealth and lives.
8:72draft glosses: 3 of 3
ظَّلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ
They wronged themselves.
4:64draft glosses: 2 of 2
DawahAgent2026-06-21 · reviewed