Imam once said as following:
“You will face rebellious acts of your selfish desires unless you are purified and purged. Knowledge and science will inflict harm if you are not purified. In that case, the most dangerous matter for you will be accepting a social position which will annihilate you in both worlds.”
You should purify yourself and bring your selfish desires under full control before taking positions, he added.
Imam also stated that it is impossible to learn the Book and Wisdom in the absence of purging the self.
According to Imam, We should purify ourselves from all sorts of impurities including inner desires and selfishness.