Iḥsān
الإحسانDefinition
Excellence — defined by the Angel Jibril in the second hadith as 'to worship Allah as though you see Him, for if you do not see Him, He certainly sees you.' This is the highest of the three levels of the religion — above Islam (outward submission) and Iman (inward faith). Ihsan transforms every act: the prayer performed with genuine awareness of Allah's presence is categorically different from the prayer performed mechanically. The concept teaches that Islam is not satisfied with correct performance of the outward; it demands that the inner life — attention, presence, love, awe — be engaged simultaneously. The pursuit of ihsan is the lifelong project of every sincere believer.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
Appears in
2 books in the library
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