nefs

Nefs is a term used in multiple languages and contexts, most commonly as a transliteration of the Arabic word nafs, which means self, soul, or ego. In Islamic theology and Sufi psychology, nafs denotes the inner self and its moral development. The concept is traditionally discussed in stages, with commonly named forms such as nafs al-ammārah (the commanding self), nafs al-lawwāmah (the reproachful self), and nafs al-mutma'innah (the tranquil self). These categories describe a progression of character and moral awareness, rather than fixed identities.

Linguistically, spellings such as nefs or nafs appear in English-language scholarship and translations, reflecting different transliteration conventions. The term is used primarily in religious and philosophical contexts, though it also appears in secular discussions of self, psyche, or identity in translations of classical texts.

In modern usage, Nefs may also occur as a proper noun in various contexts, including as a surname, a brand name, or a fictional entity in literature or media. Such uses are heterogeneous and do not point to a single, unified referent.

Etymology traces back to the Arabic root N-F-S, associated with breath, life, and self, though the precise semantic load differs across historical periods and schools of thought.