Do not consider yourself safe from the harm of someone who deems themselves insignificant and inferior [and who, in their heart, feels degraded and lowly].[1]
The Almighty God has granted humanity the medal of honor, dignity, and greatness, to the extent that in the Qur’an, He says: “And We have certainly honored the children of Adam…; We have granted humans greatness and dignity” [2]. With this characteristic, He elevated them above all other creatures to such an extent that He praised His own creation: “…So blessed is Allah, the best of creators” [3].
From the totality of the verses and narrations, it becomes clear that if a person is on the path of guidance and goodness, they will attain such greatness and dignity that they surpass even the angels. However, if they stray from this path, they will become lower than the beasts and the predators.
The way to achieve this greatness and dignity of the soul lies in understanding who we are, where we come from, how we should behave, and which qualities are befitting of our exalted status. This total self-awareness is the foundation for a person’s evolution towards their rightful place in self-recognition, which is considered to be “one of the best and most beneficial forms of knowledge[4].” Therefore, through self-awareness, a person understands their abilities, potentials, transformations, and characteristics, and recognizes their inherent weaknesses, poverty, dependency, and attachment to the infinite power of their Creator.
According to the words of Imam Hadi (peace be upon him), a person who does not recognize their worth and does not strive for self-awareness will inevitably fall into ruin. This is because if, due to lack of self-knowledge, one deems their own status and position as low and contemptible, they will commit any vile act and disregard their own dignity. Such a person must be feared because when someone does not value themselves, they will certainly not value others.
It is no coincidence that those who lack culture and identity engage in heinous crimes and criminal behavior becomes commonplace for them. In the midst of the noise and chaos of worldly life, we must not neglect self-awareness and should take a moment to reflect on our position in the grand design of creation.
(Taken from the book “Wisdoms of Naqvi,” authored by “Javad Modhadi” (with summaries and additions))
Footnotes:
[1] (Tuhaf al-Uqul, p. 483)
[2] Quran, Surah Al-Isra, verse 70
[3] Quran, Surah Al-Mu’minun, verse 14
[4] (Gharar al-Hikam, p. 712)