The Structure of Self-Awareness in the Holy Qur'an 10.35781/1637-000-127-001

Abstract

This study aimed to establish a comprehensive framework for the concept of self-awareness based on the Qur’an. It sought to explore the Qur’anic understanding of self-awareness, identify the initial capacities granted by God to enable human self-awareness, examine the obstacles that hinder its development, and ultimately deduce the intended outcomes of self-awareness for the believing individual. "This study employed the descriptive-analytical approach through the deductive method, in order to extract the relevant concepts from the Holy Qur’an." The study yielded several key findings, including the following: 1. The analysis revealed that self-awareness, as portrayed in the Qur’an, is an innate function rooted in human nature, manifested through key Qur’anic concepts such as self-accountability (muhāsabah), reflection (tafakkur), purification (tazkiyah), intention (niyyah), and inner insight (baṣīrah). 2. The Qur’anic discourse on self-awareness possesses distinct characteristics that address the shortcomings of modern psychology, including: objectivity, comprehensi veness, consistency, and a clear moral purpose. 3. The study demonstrated that the Qur’an paves the way for self-awareness through a set of innate and cognitive predispositions, such as the soul’s ability to engage in self-accountability, the human capacity for reflection and contemplation, the presence of a moral conscience grounded in divine revelation, and a natural inclination toward truth and goodness. 4. The study identified two categories of major obstacles to self-awareness in the Qur’an: internal (such as heedlessness, desire, ignorance, and arrogance) and external (such as Satanic whisperings, social pressure, and blind adherence to tradition). 5. The outcomes of Qur’anic self-awareness for the believing individual are manifested in several profound ways, most notably: knowing God, reconnecting with one’s primordial nature (fiṭrah), and recognizing the entry points of Satan.