SELF-DISCIPLINE AND SPIRITUAL PERFECTION IN SUFI PHILOSOPHY: A CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION OF THE VIEWS OF EASTERN THINKERS

Abstract

Abstract. This article examines the cultivation of the nafs (the lower self) and the attainment of spiritual perfection in Sufi philosophy, drawing on the philosophical and ethical perspectives of Eastern thinkers. In particular, it explores the teachings of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, Ahmad Yasawi, Jalal al-Din Rumi, and Ibn Arabi concerning the refinement of the human inner world, the regulation of the desires of the nafs, the development of moral virtues, and the understanding of one’s spiritual identity. The study interprets the cultivation of the nafs not merely as a religious and mystical practice, but as a complex process involving moral responsibility, self-regulation, and spiritual development. It also examines the significance of the Sufi intellectual and spiritual heritage for contemporary education, moral and spiritual upbringing, and personal development. The findings indicate that the concept of cultivating the nafs can serve as an important ethical and philosophical resource in contemporary society for fostering self-awareness, emotional regulation, patience, responsibility, and social cohesion.

Keywords: Sufism, nafs, cultivation of the nafs, spiritual perfection, tazkiyat al-nafs, al-Ghazali, Ahmad Yasawi, Jalal al-Din Rumi, Ibn Arabi, spiritual and moral education, ethical development.