Human Existential Dimensions 14item Do animals possess souls and if so how does the animal soul differ from the human soul? Please explain the human nature according to Shia beliefs? It is said that all the actions of man are to gain some material or spiritual benefit or to protect him from some haram. So much so that even those acts which are apparently benevolent like helping the widows or training of children etc., they are also not exempted from this rule because by helping others and expressing love for them, man obtains consolation for his own soul and comforts his heart which had become restless after seeing their deplorable condition. Keeping this principle in view that all the actions of man are caused by the desire to obtain some material or spiritual benefit, why is it so that some actions are termed as sacrifice, offering and selflessness etc? The motherly love is the best example of sacrifice and a mother obtains peace by expressing her natural motherly feelings. If she does not rare and train her child she would be hurt. In such a case how can we say that motherly love is pure of every selfish motive and how can we call this a selfless sacrifice? How the external particularity of the spirit can be a proof for the originality and independence of the spirit? Please explain the reasons for the originality, independence and subsistence of the spirit. What is the opinion of Divine philosophers and the materialist philosophers about the spirit? In psychology, how many dimensions or senses does human spirit have? From the Quranic viewpoint is man an ignorant and unjust creature, or is he khalifatullah (God’s vicegerent)? Love hurts, of course I mean earthly love. Is heavenly love and loving Allah frightening? Does it cause us to lose all the things we like; like our family, etc.? I like to be a lover of Allah but a friend of mine said that it would be scary. One of my friends used to say: "You can love Allah from down here too, but if you get close to him, you might be dissolved in him and will no longer exist"… My friend says: "Even though the prophet worshipped Allah for 40 years, when he confronted Jibra’il he fainted, let alone seeing Allah himself. Also, prophet Musa’s followers died when Allah's light shined upon the mountain, so we will probably have a worse fate. What is the relationship between the soul and body? Is it that the body is in the soul or vice versa? This is the meaning of verse 85 from Surah Al Isra: "They ask thee concerning the Spirit. Say:" The Spirit is off the command of my Lord: of knowledge it is only a little that is communicated to you, (O men!)" Please explain: 1- Why the Prophet didn't want to provide people with more information about the soul? 2- What is the soul according to the ahadith? Can it be seen? On the one hand, in the sciences of education and psychology a great deal of emphasis is placed on self-confidence, but in Islamic teachings, ethics, and gnosticism (‘irfan) on the other hand, it is stressed that one must trust only in Allah (awj) and not in oneself. Is there a contradiction between the two perspectives? What does it mean when people say, “The soul of a deceased person has awareness of what happens in this world”? How is it so? Is it through the angels? What is the relationship between Divine will and human will?