All religious obligations depend on it...

All religious obligations depend on it, hence he who loses his reason is not required to perform them and is not sinful when he commits sins. That is because reason is the only condition in the correctness of religious duties and their validity on him whom performs them. D. He, peace be on him, said: The best reason is that man knows his own soul. [2] When man knows how his soul was shaped and ended, he will gain abundant good.

That is because such knowledge will drive him away from evil inclinations, urges him to cling to good inclinations, and makes him know his Almighty Creator. It has been mentioned in the tradition: He who knows his own soul knows his Lord. Reflecting on the Affair of Allah Imām al-Ridā, peace be on him, said: Worship is not abundant prayer and fasting; rather it is abundant reflecting on the affair of Allah, the Great and Almighty. [3] [1] Ibid., p. 11. [2] A'yān al-Shi'a, 4/Q2/196.

[3] Al-Mizān, vol. 8, p. 369. Wasā'il al-Shi'a, vol. 11, p. 16. Reflecting on the creatures of Allah, contemplating His wonderful creatures, and thinking of the secrets and wonders of this universe are clear evidence for the existence of the Almighty Creator. When man knows his Lord, he is safe from evil and committing crime, and he becomes the source of bestowal and good for his own soul and his society.

Reckoning Soul He, peace be on him, said: He who reckons his own soul is successful; he who is heedless of it is unsuccessful. [1] If man reckons his own soul with regard to doing good and evil deeds and prevents it from committing evil deeds, he will be sublime and attain success and good. If he is heedless of it, he will throw himself into endless evil. Clemency He, peace be on him, said: Man is not worshipful unless he is clement.

[2] Clemency is the noblest quality by which man is distinguished. Clemency toward evildoer and pardoning aggressor indicate that soul is sublime and has reached the highest degree of perfection. Through clemency man is the master of other than him and is a good guide to his own society. Silence He, peace be on him, said: Some signs of understanding are clemency, knowledge, and silence. Silence is one of the doors to wisdom. It brings about love and is evidence for all good.

[3] Silence and controlling the tongue protect man from great evil and turn him aside from detested things which result from speech and utterance. [1] Usūl al-Kāfi, vol. 2, p. 111. [2] Ibid., p. 113. [3] Ibid., p. 124.