An Examination and Analysis of the Ḥadīth on the Correlation of Knowing Oneself and Knowledge of God from the Viewpoint of the Shī a Scholars

Given the importance of theology and best ways of knowing it in the Islamic culture, this article is intended to examine the method of self-knowledge according to the ḥadīth, man ‘arafa nafsa faqad ‘arafa Rabba (he who knows himself knows his Lord) from the viewpoint of the Shī‘a scholars and try to recognize the components of this noble ḥadīth by way of analysis and examine its different experimental, philosophical, mystical, and Qur’ānic readings (qarā’ats). It is concluded that any of the above-mentioned readings of the ḥadīth would cause us to reach God but its Gnostic value is different, in a way that the Qur’ānic gnosis is the most sublime gnosis and the experimental cognition stands lowest in rank.