And the reason behind this matter must be sought and means...

And the reason behind this matter must be sought and means of establishing soundness and salvation from it must be recognized. Principally, all human endeavors, be they scientific or practical, are carried out to provide the enjoyments, interests, and benefits to man. As a consequence, recognition of man himself, his beginning, his end, as well as the perfection which he might reach, is prior to any other issue.

Without the recognition of man's reality and his true value, all other discussions and efforts will rather be futile and baseless. The insistence of heavenly religions, religious leaders, and scholars of morals on self-recognition and self-awareness is entirely a guidance to this innate and rational truth. The Holy Qur'an regards forsaking the soul as the requisite for forsaking Allah (SWT) and as the punishment of this sin: “….

وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ نَسُوا اللَّهَ فَأَنْسَاهُمْ أَنْفُسَهُمْ ” "And be not like those who forsook Allah, so He made them forsake their own souls... (59:19)." Elsewhere it says: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ ۖ لَا يَضُرُّكُمْ مَنْ ضَلَّ إِذَا اهْتَدَيْتُمْ ۚ” إِلَى اللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ“… "... Take care of your souls: he who errs cannot hurt you when you are the right way...

(5:105)." Although divine verses pay heed to the universe and the souls, the Holy Qu'ran states: ”سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ ۗ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ“… "We will soon show them our signs in the universe and in their own souls, until it will become quite clear to them that it is the truth...

(41:53)." It however, accords a special status to the verses pertaining to the soul with such an interpretation: ”وَفِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ ۚ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ“ "And in your own souls (too); will you not then see (51:21)?" The Holy Qur'an has reproached those who do not endeavor for self-awareness and who do not see divine signs within themselves.

The Holy Prophet (SA) has also maintained an exceptional significance for self-recognition and has introduced it as the means of theism: "Whoever recognizes himself has recognized his Lord." In this regard, numerous traditions with various contexts have been related from the Amirul -Mu'minin (AS). Late Amadi has cited about thirty of them in Ghurarul-Hikam.

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