Ihsan (excellence) is the highest rank of faith that a servant can reach. Blessed are those who attain it and become among the muhsinun (those who excel in worship), for faith has levels, and not everyone who accepts Islam is on the same level of piety, certainty, and commitment. Among them are those who submit to Islam, those who believe, and those who worship Allah as if they see Him, and thus become a muhsin, one whom Allah loves and who loves Him. The difference in levels of faith is mentioned in the Qur'an, as in the verse: "The Bedouins say, 'We have believed.' Say, 'You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], 'We have submitted,' for faith has not yet entered your hearts. But if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not deprive you from your deeds of anything. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.'" (Al-Hujurat: 14).
The Prophet ﷺ clarified the difference between these levels and the characteristics of each rank in the well-known hadith narrated by Abu Huraira: “The Prophet ﷺ was sitting out one day when Jibreel came to him and said: "What is faith?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, 'Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, (the) meeting with Him, His Apostles, and to believe in Resurrection." Then he further asked, "What is Islam?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "To worship Allah Alone and none else, to offer prayers perfectly to pay the compulsory charity (Zakat) and to observe fasts during the month of Ramadan." Then he further asked, "What is Ihsan (perfection)?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion then you must consider that He is looking at you." Then he further asked, "When will the Hour be established?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "The answerer has no better knowledge than the questioner. But I will inform you about its portents.
- When a slave (lady) gives birth to her master.
- When the shepherds of black camels start boasting and competing with others in the construction of higher buildings. And the Hour is one of five things which nobody knows except Allah.
The Prophet (ﷺ) then recited: 'Indeed, Allah [alone] has knowledge of the Hour' (Luqman: 34) Then that man (Gabriel) left and the Prophet (ﷺ) asked his companions to call him back, but they could not see him. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "That was Gabriel who came to teach the people their religion."” (Bukhari: 50).
Imam Muhammad bin Ahmad Al-Safarini, when discussing this meaning, said: "The religion and its adherents, as reported by the Seal of the Prophets and the Leader of the Messengers, consist of three levels: The first is Islam, the middle is faith, and the highest is Ihsan. Whoever reaches the highest has also attained the one before it. Thus, the muhsin is a believer, and the believer is a Muslim, but the Muslim is not necessarily a believer." This is how the Qur'an describes the nation into these three categories. Allah says: "Then We caused to inherit the Book those We have chosen of Our servants; and among them is he who wrongs himself, and among them is he who is moderate, and among them is he who is foremost in good deeds by permission of Allah. That [inheritance] is what is the great bounty." (Fatir: 32). The Muslim who does not fulfill the duties of faith is the one who wrongs himself, the moderate one is the believer who fulfills the obligations and avoids the forbidden, and the one foremost in good deeds is the muhsin, who worships Allah as if he sees Him. Allah has mentioned this classification of people in the Hereafter in Surah Al-Waqi'ah and Al-Mutaffifin.
Ihsan is fundamentally linked to the level of sincerity a Muslim servant has. The more sincere he is in all his words and deeds for Allah, the higher he rises in the rank of Ihsan. Allah says: "Yes [on the contrary], whoever submits his face in Islam to Allah while being a doer of good will have his reward with his Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve." (Al-Baqarah: 112). And He also says: "And whoever submits his face to Allah while he is a doer of good – then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold. And to Allah will be the outcome of [all] matters." (Luqman: 22).
Generally, Ihsan is associated with all acts of worship, virtues of faith, and the noble qualities of Islamic ethics. This is reflected in Allah's statement: "There is not upon those who believe and do righteousness [any] blame concerning what they have eaten [in the past] if they [now] fear Allah and believe and do righteous deeds, and then fear Allah and believe, and then fear Allah and do good; and Allah loves the doers of good." (Al-Ma'idah: 93). Allah concludes His description of those who are characterized by faith, piety, and obedience by doing righteous deeds, with the comprehensive term "doers of good."
One specific aspect of Ihsan is also connected to spending in the cause of Allah, giving charity to the poor and needy, and in jihad and da'wah. Allah says: "And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good." (Al-Baqarah: 195).
The aforementioned verses highlight the greatness of Ihsan and the status of the Muslim and believer who reaches this rank. He is deserving of Allah's love, and what an honor that is! Moreover, the muhsin attains Allah’s constant help and companionship in all conditions. Allah says: "Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who are doers of good." (An-Nahl: 128).
However, the first and most important definition of Ihsan remains that the servant worships Allah as if he sees Him. This is the highest level of certainty and the highest rank of piety. The muhsin is the one who truly fears Allah both in the seen and unseen, fulfills all obligations, increases in voluntary deeds, possesses noble character, and repents sincerely from sins. He avoids what Allah has forbidden and hastens toward good deeds. He may even moderate in lawful and permissible matters to avoid being consumed by worldly desires. In this way, faith and Ihsan are perfected.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Read this Article in Arabic
