Table 1.

Theoretical categories and subcategories

Main categories	Subcategories
Nature of the soul	Concept of fitrah
	Fitrah exists underneath the projected self
	Being out of alignment with fitrah
	Dunya as distraction
	Fitrah as internal compass—realignment
Structure of the soul	Distinct features of the soul
	Soul as whole—integrated nature of the soul
	Nafs (lower self)
	Qalb (heart)
	Aql (intellect)
	Ruh (spirit)
Stages of the soul	Changing nature/fluctuation of the nafs
	Nafs al amara bil su
	Nafs al lawwama
	Nafs al mutmainah
Development of the soul	The human project of development
	Tazkiyat an nafs (purification of the soul)
	Jihad an nafs (struggle of the soul)
	Tahdhib al akhlaq (refinement of character)
	Need for moral reform
	Muhlikat and munjiyat (vices and virtues)