المَعرِفَةَ

INNER KNOWLEDGE *

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2– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Knowledge is the first proof whereas inner knowledge is the last step in the conclusion.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2061]

3– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Inner knowledge is the light of the heart.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 538]

4– Imam al-Husayn (AS) said, ‘The acquisition of knowledge is the seed for
[the growth of] inner knowledge.’
[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 128, no. 11]

5– Imam al-Sadiq (AS) said, ‘Allah does not accept any act without inner knowledge
[i.e. awareness of what one is doing], and inner knowledge only comes through prior action. So whoever knows intrinsically, his knowledge will lead him to action, and whoever does not act does not have any inner knowledge.’
[al-Kafi, v. 1, p. 44, no. 2]

6– The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The light of inner knowledge is brought about by hunger whereas distance from Allah is caused by satiety. Proximity to Allah is brought about by loving the poor and drawing near to them, so do not eat to your fill lest the light of inner knowledge be extinguished from your hearts.’
[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 70, p. 71, no. 20]

7– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The inner knowledge of the self is the most beneficial of all such knowledge.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 9865]

8– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The one who attains knowledge of his own self has obtained the greatest victory indeed.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 9965]

9– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘How can one who is ignorant of his own self expect to know others?!’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6998]

10– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He who gains inner knowledge of his self combats it, and he who remains ignorant of his self, neglects it.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, nos. 7855-7856]

11– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He who attains inner knowledge of Allah leads a life of unity
[reflecting Allah’s Divine Unity]; he who attains inner knowledge of his self strips himself
[of all that hinders its progress]; he who attains inner knowledge about this world abstains from it; and he who attains inner knowledge about people prefers solitude.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, nos. 7829-7832]

12– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘The person who knows his self the best is he who fears his Lord the most.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3126]

13– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He who attains inner knowledge of his self attains inner knowledge of his Lord.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 7946]

14– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘It befits one who knows the dignity of his own self to deem it too great for the vileness of this world.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1093]

15– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘It befits one who knows the dignity of his own self to adhere to temperance and self-restraint.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 10927]

16– Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘It befits one who knows the dignity of his own self to never allow a sorrowful and self-cautious state to leave him.’
[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 10937]

17– Imam Zayn al-Abidin (AS) said in one of his supplications, ‘Make us from among those who have attained inner knowledge of their selves and are convinced of their true abode, such that they spend their whole lives in Your obedience.’
[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 94, p. 128, no. 19]

18– Imam al-Baqir (AS) said in his advice to Jabir al-Ju`afi, ‘There is no inner knowledge like your inner knowledge of your own self.’
[Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, no. 286]

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* The Arabic ‘ma`arifa’ denotes inner knowledge discerned and understood by the heart, often referring to intrinsic knowledge of higher truths, of the soul, and of Allah, which fuels one to perform good deeds and leads one closer to Allah. This is in contrast to the Arabic `Ailm which denotes acquired and learned knowledge in any field, which may or may not lead to action or proximity to Allah (ed.)