The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 8
8. Three Methods of Reform. Essence of Islam-III. I have mentioned that there are three sources of human states, namely, Nafs-e-Ammārah [the self that incites to evil], Nafs-e-Lawwāmah [the self-reproaching self] and. Nafs-e-Mutma 'innah [the soul at rest. ] Similarly, there are three methods of reform. . The first method of reform is that savages should be trained in rudimentary morals so that they follow the etiquette pertaining to social matters like eating, drinking, marriage, etc. They should not go about naked, nor eat carrion, nor exhibit any other ill manners. This is the elementary stage of reform of the natural state. It is the type of reform that should be adopted, for example, when teaching proper manners to a wild savage of Port Blair whom one should start instructing in basic morals and manners. . The second method of reform is that, after a person has acquired basic human manners, he should be instructed in higher moral qualities and taught to exercise all human faculties on their proper occasion and place. . The third method of reform is that those who have formally learned to exercise morals should be taught to relish the taste of true Love and Communion. These are the three reforms mentioned in the Holy Qur'ān. [Islāmī Uşūl ki Philosophy, Rūḥānī Khazā'in, vol. 10, pp. 327-328]. Khalq [Creation] and Khulq [Morals]. People commonly take Khulq [morals] to means meekness, courtesy and humility. They are wrong. The truth is that corresponding to every physical action there is an inner quality which is called Khulq [moral]. For instance, a person sheds tears through the eyes and, corresponding