Throughout history, people have always been looking for ways to gain progress and move toward perfection. However, many of them not only do not make progress, but have moved lower in human ranks.

In every activity, it is important to pay attention to the beginning, method and destination. This will help one to do things faster reach the goals. Knowing that you are in the first or second stage of doing something will greatly help you in what you do and in preventing you from losing motivation.

You say to yourself: Just as I began from square one and passed several stages to reach here, I will go through more stages to reach higher levels.

Paying attention to the destination is also important. You should know where are going to get after going through so much hardships. And more important than that is knowing the method you want to use. Every move requires a method. You know you should not cross a street where there are many cars passing because you may get hurt. So you use another method and take the overpass to cross the street.

That many people throughout history have failed to move on the path of success and growth is because they did not choose the right method. Choosing the right method will help one move fast.

One method and means that helps mankind and guides him to the destination is the Holy Quran. Imam Ali (AS) says: “No one will sit beside this Quran but that when he rises he will achieve one addition or one diminution - addition in his guidance or elimination in his (spiritual) blindness.” (Sermon 176 of Nahj al-Balagha)

So according to Imam Ali (AS). Sitting beside the Quran has two major benefits: 1- Reducing ignorance and 2- Raising awareness and guidance.

The Quran is a book that is aware of all of man’s conditions, characteristics and states, because it is from the Creator of mankind. Thus, every second one spends with this book will help him get out of ignorance and move toward guidance.

As the Quran knows mankind very well, it will not lead him astray and is the most secure and assured way for progress and growth. Of course, the Quran should be read and act upon the Quran with the right interpretation, the interpretation that Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS have given us.

Imam Sadiq (AS) said in a Hadith, “God taught the knowledge of Haram and Halal and Ta’wil and Tanzil of the Quran to the Prophet (PBUH) and he taught it to Ali (AS).”

Therefore, in order to benefit from this great source of growth and progress, we should refer to those who have the knowledge of the Quran, namely Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS).