Tradition

ما مِنْ حَرَكَة اِلاّ وَ اَنْتَ مُحْتاجٌ فِيها اِلى مَعْرِفَة

Imam ‘Ali (‘a) is narrated to have said: “There is no action or work except that you need awareness, comprehension, and understanding in its performance.”1

Brief Commentary

If we reflect on the words ‘There is no action or work…’ we will become familiar with the extent of the Islamic program for life. The religion of Islam isn’t only a program for worship and supplication, or only a belief system without any practical applications. Islam is in reality a program for the entirety of our lives and this includes both personal issues, as well as social. This program extends to every action that we perform. The first step towards enacting this program is awareness and understanding of reality; without understanding ourselves and the reality around us properly, all of our actions and efforts will be without effect or at least they will be lessened in their effectiveness.

• 1. Safinat al-Bihar, vol. 1, p. 15, Mustadrak Al-Wasa’il, vol. 17, p. 267, Bisharat Al-Mustafa, p. 24.