Islam is the external application of the laws of religion but it doesn’t necessarily mean that that application and that belief is reflected within. Therefore, imaan is a degree higher than Islam. But the degree of ihsaan is beyond both and is reserved only for the select and for the elect; those who are truly close to Allah سبحانه وتعالى. They are those whose ibad’ah (worship), awareness of Allah عز وجل and ma’rifah (cognisance) of Allah is not just limited to ritualistic prayer or to ritualistic remembrance with the tongue. Rather, their belief, faith, and devotion to Allah rests securely in their hearts, and is reflected in their limbs and organs, in their external application of religion and most importantly it permeates their whole body and their very being. So for them ihsaan (i.e. to worship Allah in a manner as though they see Him) is not just in the heart or the mind but their whole condition is one of ihsaan. Truly that is a lofty degree to which all of us should aspire but we should realise at the same time that it is not easily gained and it requires determination, devotion, perseverance and sacrifice. May Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless us with such a rank of ihsaan. Allah praises those with the rank of ihsaan. In one verse Allah عز وجل says:
وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
And indeed Allah is with the muhsineen.
[Surah al-Ankabut, 29:69]
The meaning of muhsineen is those who occupy the rank of ihsaan; thus, Allah is with those who practice ihsaan. Allah is with them all the time. Allah protects them, surrounds them, supports them and strengthens them just as He specifically and exclusively supports the prophets عليهم السلام, their companions, the siddiqeen (the veracious), the martyrs and those who are close to Allah سبحانه وتعالى in a way which is different to others.
[This short excerpt is based on Lesson 21 of the al Tajrid al Sarih series taught by Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq on 26th October 2001. For a more comprehensive understanding of this topic please refer to that lecture].
as-wr-wb – I can wholeheartedly relate to this excerpt. I am a born muslim who until recently never really got in depth into what being a MUSLIM entails. I can’t really put blame on this to anyone, no one’s perfect right. In saying that, one thing for sure is that I never let go of Allah (swt) even though I was on an alternative path to what I am on now!!!
These excerpts are a great way of reminding us of how to try and put into practice what we have been taught/learnt, Jazakalla-khairun from the depth of my heart n soul.
Wow this is a great resource.. I’m enjoying it.. good article
Jazakallaah for this. It’s not that simply for converts either. a lot of people expect you to be “on a level” just because you become a muslim “voluntarily”. It took me a real long time to realize that it’s a whole different thing to know things and have understanding of them. then to gain that understanding is yet another thing. At least i’ve now learned that i know nothing, alhamdulillaah.
Thanks for sharing the beautiful information about ihsan. May Allah guide us to the right path and help us seek maximum Islamic knowledge and share it with others. Thanks
Allah ap ko mazeed kam krna ki taqat da