Even though everyone needs advice from others, it is the advice that comes from within a person that is the best advice. This is because each person is aware of their own characteristics and faults more than anybody else.

One must focus their attention on continuous self-examination, regardless of a lack of feedback from others, because self-examination prevents us from making future mistakes. In this hadith, “fear” means fearing God and His punishment as well as one’s own wrongdoing, and not fearing people and whimsical powers.

“Caution” refers to being careful, not in the sense of becoming inactive. Rather, observing discretion and abstinence whilst engaging in various fields of activities, which is the true meaning of piety.