Iqbal referred to the soul or the inner essence of man as khudi and described its intrinsic knowledge as ‘Irfan-e-Nafs, or the recognition of the inner being. This concept is central to Iqbal’s philosophy, where khudi represents the true self or soul, rather than mere ego.
Unfortunately, many interpreters have misunderstood khudi, translating it as ego, which is often associated with pride or vanity. This misinterpretation overlooks the fact that while ego distances a person from Allah, the soul, or khudi, draws one closer to Him. Iqbal emphasized that understanding one’s true self involves a deeper awareness of the soul.
In his works, Iqbal uses various terms such as inner, heart, inward, and soul to describe this profound understanding. His concept of ‘Irfan-e-Nafs underscores the importance of recognizing and connecting with the inner self as a means of spiritual growth and closeness to Allah.
