Nafs in the Qur'an: A Semantic Reassessment Beyond The "Soul" Paradigm

"Nafs (نفس) in the Qur'an presents a careful reexamination of the Qur'anic term نفس, which is often translated as 'soul' in many modern renderings of the Qur'an. Through close textual analysis and a comparative study of multiple translations, the book argues that نفس in many contexts more accurately refers to the person or self rather than to a separate metaphysical entity. By highlighting inconsistencies in common translations, the study aims to clarify the Qur'an's discourse on moral responsibility and accountability. The work encourages a context-sensitive approach to translation that remains faithful to the language, structure, and ethical message of the Qur'an."