al-Anfus is interpreted in six ways:
1. al-Anfus is used in the sense of qalb (the heart); as in the following verses:
They follow nothing but conjecture and what their anfus (i.e., their qalb) desire. (al-Najm/23)
Yet I do not absolve my nafs (i.e., my qalb). Indeed, the nafs (i.e., the body) is ever commanding to evil. (Yusuf/53)
We know well what his nafs (i.e., his qalb) whispers to him. (Qaf/16)
Your Lord knows best what is in your anfus (i.e., what is in your qalb). (al-Isra/25)
There are many similar statements.
2. al-Nafs is used in the sense of human / the human self; as in the following verses:
Life for life (nafs for nafs, i.e., human for human, soul for soul)... (al-Ma'idah/45)
Whoever kills a nafs (i.e., a human) without recompense for another nafs (i.e., a human)... (al-Ma'idah/32)
3. The word anfusakum [your nafs] means those who belong to your religion; as in the following verse:
Do not kill your anfus (i.e., each other: those who belong to your religion)! (al-Nisa/29)
4. Anfusakum is used in the sense of "from among you / yourselves, (of your own kind)"; as in the following verse:
There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among your anfus (i.e., from among you / yourselves, of your own kind)... (al-Tawbah/128)
5. al-Anfus is used in the sense of the human ruh (spirit): the life at the moment when the ruh is seized; as in the following verses:
If you could but see when the wrongdoers are in the overwhelming pangs of death while the angels extend their hands, [saying], "Release your anfus (i.e., your ruh, your souls)!" (al-An'am/93)
Here, it is intended that at the time when their ruh will be seized, it will be said, "Release your ruh/souls!"
Allah takes the nafs at the time of their death (i.e., when He seizes the ruh, He takes the human's life/soul). (al-Zumar/42)
6. The phrase taqtulūna anfusakum [you are killing your nafs] means you are killing each other; as in the following verses:
Then you were killing your anfus (i.e., you were killing each other). (al-Baqarah/85)
Kill your anfus (i.e., kill each other)! (al-Baqarah/54)
7. The phrase aqtulū anfusakum [kill your nafs / yourselves] is interpreted according to its apparent meaning when recited (i.e., in the sense of a person killing himself); as in the following verse:
If We had decreed upon them, "Kill your anfus (i.e., kill yourselves) or leave your homes," only a few of them would have done it. (al-Nisa/66)