According to the Holy Quran and the narrations from the Infallible Imams (AS), many virtues and positive moral traits are rooted in self-knowledge. If one knows his value and understands his lofty position and fathoms out who he is, where he is and where he is headed, he will know a great deal of truth and facts and will endeavor tenaciously to build his personality.
Having known himself, mankind will consequently understand what traits he should develop and what activities he should avoid, and he will also understand what perfects him and what destroys him.
Armed with self-knowledge, mankind can become aware of his deficiencies as well as his own mental and spiritual illnesses, and understand what vacancies he has; Therefore, he will strive to compensate for the deficiencies, cure diseases and fill its internal vacancies.
The issue of self-knowledge is of such great importance that the commander of the faithful, Imam Ali (as) has admired those who have gained self-knowledge.
رَحِمَ اللهُ امْرءً عَرَفَ قَدْرَهُ وَلَمْ يَتَعَدَّ طَوْرَهُ .
May God have mercy upon the who knows his value and dignity and does not go beyond boundaries
Gharar Hakam: 233, Hadith 4666; Description of Nahj al-Balagha: 16/118.
And in another narration, he has said:
رَحِمَ اللهُ امْرِءً اَعَدَّ لِنَفْسِهِ وَاسْتَعَدَّ لِرَمْسِهِ وَعَلِمَ مِنْ اَيْنَ وَفِى اَيْنَ وَاِلى اَيْنَ
May God Almighty have mercy upon those who provide for themselves the elements of eternal bliss and prepare for the hereafter and God may pour his mercy upon the one who knows where he has come from and where he is now and where he is going to go.
source : erfan.ir
