The book introduced him to the three types of nafs: the nafs al-ammarah (the commanding self), the nafs al-lawwamah (the reproving self), and the nafs al-mutmainah (the peaceful self). Ammar identified with the first type, which constantly urged him to follow his base desires.
Ibn Qayyim emphasizes a three-step practical approach often referred to as:
The central goal of the text is to achieve a "sound heart" ( Qalbun Saleem ) by cleansing it of spiritual ailments.
Ibnu Qayyim al-Jauziyyah was a preeminent scholar of the 14th century whose works on the "diseases of the heart" and spiritual refinement remain the gold standard for (purification of the soul). His teachings provide a structured roadmap for transitioning a soul from being dominated by base desires to one that finds tranquility in the remembrance of Allah. The Core Concept of Tazkiyatun Nafs