concept

One Soul

نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَة

The concept of "One Soul" (نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَة) is a profound principle in Islam, articulating the common origin of all humanity. It teaches us that every person, regardless of their background or identity, shares a fundamental connection, having been created by Allah from a single source. The Quran beautifully illustrates this, stating, [O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women]. This powerful verse emphasizes Adam as the primordial human being, from whom Eve (his mate) was created, and from them both, the vast diversity of humanity blossomed. This shared beginning underscores the inherent equality and brotherhood of all people, fostering a sense of mutual respect and discouraging pride based on lineage or race. Allah reminds us that [He created you from one soul. Then He made from it its mate], reinforcing this foundational truth. Moreover, the Quran also conveys the effortless nature of creation for Allah, where [Your creation and your resurrection will not be but as that of a single soul]. This concept serves as a constant reminder of our collective human family and our ultimate accountability to our Creator, encouraging unity, compassion, and justice among all.

Quran 4 verses

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُوا۟ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَآءً وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى تَسَآءَلُونَ بِهِۦ وَٱلْأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا

Yaaa aiyuhan naasut taqoo Rabbakumul lazee khalaqakum min nafsinw waahidatinw wa khalaqa minhaa zawjahaa wa bas sa minhumaa rijaalan kaseeranw wa nisaaa'aa; wattaqul laahallazee tasaaa 'aloona bihee wal arhaam; innal laaha kaana 'alaikum Raqeeba

O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed Allah is ever, over you, an Observer.

لوگو اپنے پروردگار سے ڈرو جس نے تم کو ایک شخص سے پیدا کیا (یعنی اول) اس سے اس کا جوڑا بنایا۔ پھر ان دونوں سے کثرت سے مرد وعورت (پیدا کرکے روئے زمین پر) پھیلا دیئے۔ اور خدا سے جس کے نام کو تم اپنی حاجت بر آری کا ذریعہ بناتے ہو ڈرو اور (قطع مودت) ارحام سے (بچو) کچھ شک نہیں کہ خدا تمہیں دیکھ رہا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Sequence _ _ The last verse of Surah 'Al-` Imran was concluded with an exhortation to Taqwa, the fear of Allah. The present Surah begins with Taqwa in the mode of command. The previous Surah mentioned some battles, described the manner of treating antagonists, condemned misappropriation in battle sp...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: O people of Mecca fear your Lord that is His punishment by being obedient to Him Who created you of a single soul Adam and from it created its mate Eve Hawwā’ from one of his left ribs and from the pair of them Adam and Eve scattered separated and spread many men and many women; and fear God by whom...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Which was revealed in Al-Madina Virtues of Surat An-Nisa, A Madinan Surah Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said that Surat An-Nisa' was revealed in Al-Madinah. Ibn Marduwyah recorded similar statements from `Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr and Zayd bin Thabit. In his Mustadrak, Al-Hakim recorded that `Abdul...

يَٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ لَا تَغْلُوا۟ فِى دِينِكُمْ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْحَقَّ إِنَّمَا ٱلْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُۥٓ أَلْقَىٰهَآ إِلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِّنْهُ فَـَٔامِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ ثَلَٰثَةٌ ٱنتَهُوا۟ خَيْرًا لَّكُمْ إِنَّمَا ٱللَّهُ إِلَٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ سُبْحَٰنَهُۥٓ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُۥ وَلَدٌ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًا

Yaaa Ahlal Kitaabi laa taghloo fee deenikum wa laa taqooloo 'alal laahi illalhaqq; innamal Maseehu 'Eesab-nu-Maryamma Rasoolul laahi wa Kalimatuhooo alqaahaaa ilaa Maryamma wa roohum minhum fa aaminoo billaahi wa Rusulihee wa laa taqooloo salaasah; intahoo khairallakum; innamal laahu Ilaahunw Waahid, Subhaanahooo ani yakoona lahoo walad; lahoo maa fissamaawaati wa maa fil ard; wa kafaa billaahi Wakeelaa

O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.

اے اہل کتاب اپنے دین (کی بات) میں حد سے نہ بڑھو اور خدا کے بارے میں حق کے سوا کچھ نہ کہو۔ مسیح (یعنی) مریم کے بیٹے عیسیٰ (نہ خدا تھے نہ خدا کے بیٹے بلکہ) خدا کے رسول اور کا کلمہٴ (بشارت) تھے جو اس نے مریم کی طرف بھیجا تھا اور اس کی طرف سے ایک روح تھے تو خدا اوراس کے رسولوں پر ایمان لاؤ۔ اور (یہ) نہ کہو (کہ خدا) تین (ہیں۔ اس اعتقاد سے) باز آؤ کہ یہ تمہارے حق میں بہتر ہے۔ خدا ہی معبود واحد ہے اور اس سے پاک ہے کہ اس کے اولاد ہو۔ جو کچھ آسمانوں میں اور جو کچھ زمین میں ہے سب اسی کا ہے۔ اور خدا ہی کارساز کافی ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Jews' were the addressees in previous verses which provided details of how astray they had gone. The present verses address the Christians and refute their doctrinal position as related to God and Sayyidna ` Isa (علیہ السلام) . Commentary_ The word: كَلِمَتُهُ : Kalimatuh used in this verse tells us...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: O People of the Scripture the Gospel do not go to extremes do not go beyond the bounds in your religion and do not say about God except the saying of the truth such as exalting Him above any associations with a partner or a child the Messiah Jesus the son of Mary was only the Messenger of God and Hi...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Prohibiting the People of the Book From Going to Extremes in Religion Allah forbids the People of the Scriptures from going to extremes in religion, which is a common trait of theirs, especially among the Christians. The Christians exaggerated over `Isa until they elevated him above the grade that A...

مَّا خَلْقُكُمْ وَلَا بَعْثُكُمْ إِلَّا كَنَفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ

Maa khalqukum wa laa ba'sukum illaa kanafsinw-waa hidah; innal laaha Samee'um Baseer

Your creation and your resurrection will not be but as that of a single soul. Indeed, Allah is Hearing and Seeing.

(خدا کو) تمہارا پیدا کرنا اور جِلا اُٹھانا ایک شخص (کے پیدا کرنے اور جلا اُٹھانے) کی طرح ہے۔ بیشک خدا سننے والا دیکھنے والا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: This has been stated in the verse: وَلَوْ أَنَّمَا فِي الْأَرْ‌ضِ مِن شَجَرَ‌ةٍ أَقْلَامٌ (27) through a similitude. Says the similitude: 'If all trees that are on the earth were to be pens (or pens were to be made of all branches on them) and the ocean (converted into ink) is supported by seven sea...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Your creation and your resurrection are only as that of a single soul in terms of creation and resurrection because it is the result of the words kun fa-yakūn ‘“Be!” and it is!’ Truly God is Hearer hearing everything that may be heard Seer seeing everything that may be seen nothing able to distract ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Words of Allah cannot be counted or exhausted Allah tells us of His might, pride, majesty, beautiful Names and sublime attributes, and His perfect Words which no one can encompass. No human being knows their essence or nature, or how many they are. As the Leader of Mankind and Seal of the Messen...

خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَأَنزَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ ثَمَٰنِيَةَ أَزْوَٰجٍ يَخْلُقُكُمْ فِى بُطُونِ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمْ خَلْقًا مِّنۢ بَعْدِ خَلْقٍ فِى ظُلُمَٰتٍ ثَلَٰثٍ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَأَنَّىٰ تُصْرَفُونَ

Khalaqakum min nafsinw waahidatin summa ja'ala minhaa zawjahaa wa anzala lakum minal-an'aami samaani yata azwaaj; yakhuluqukum fee butooni ummahaatikum khalqam mim ba'di khalqin fee zulumaatin salaas; zaalikumul laahu Rabbukum lahul mulk; laaa ilaaha illaa Huwa fa annaa tusrafoon

He created you from one soul. Then He made from it its mate, and He produced for you from the grazing livestock eight mates. He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation, within three darknesses. That is Allah, your Lord; to Him belongs dominion. There is no deity except Him, so how are you averted?

اسی نے تم کو ایک شخص سے پیدا کیا پھر اس سے اس کا جوڑا بنایا اور اسی نے تمہارے لئے چار پایوں میں سے آٹھ جوڑے بنائے۔ وہی تم کو تمہاری ماؤں کے پیٹ میں (پہلے) ایک طرح پھر دوسری طرح تین اندھیروں میں بناتا ہے۔ یہی خدا تمہارا پروردگار ہے اسی کی بادشاہی ہے۔ اس کے سوا کوئی معبود نہیں پھر تم کہاں پھرے جاتے ہو؟

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In verse 6, it was said: وَأَنزَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ الْأَنْعَامِ ثَمَانِيَةَ أَزْوَاجٍ (and sent down for you eight pairs of the cattle.). The creation of the cattle has been expressed in this verse by saying that they have been 'sent down from the skies' whereby an indication has been given that a major...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: He created you from a single soul namely Adam then made from it its mate Eve; and He sent down for you of the cattle of camels cows small cattle sheep and goats eight kinds of each kind a male and a female — as He makes clear in sūrat al-An‘ām Q. 6143f.. He creates you in your mothers’ wombs creatio...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Evidence of the Power and Oneness of Allah Allah tells us that He is the Creator of what is in the heavens and on earth, and what is between them. He is the Sovereign and Controller alternating the night and day. يُكَوِّرُ الَّيْـلَ عَلَى النَّهَـارِ وَيُكَوِّرُ النَّـهَارَ عَلَى الَّيْلِ (He makes ...

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