Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamu alaikum,

Could you please shade some light on the aspect of Ihsaan. 

 

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Answer:

 

What is Ehsaan

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

The closest a term in the limited English language would come to the meaning of the Arabic term ‘Ehsaan’ would be ‘Excellence’, or ‘Perfection’, or ‘Benevolence at its absolute best’. 

 

Time and time again, Allah Subhanah and His Messenger (saws) have guided the believers to do their every good deed with ‘ehsaan’ or excellence……if one prays, one should pray with ‘ehsaan’; if one recites the Glorious Quran, one should recite it with ‘ehsaan’; if one fulfills one rights towards their parents, or their family, or their loved ones, etc…one should do so with ‘ehsaan’; if one transacts a business, one should do so with ‘ehsaan’; if one gives some of his wealth in charity, one should do so with ‘ehsaan’…..regardless of whatever good deed one does, one is guided to do so in the absolute best manner the deed can be done.  That would be the degree of ‘ehsaan’!

 

If one does the ‘wudu’, and prays the required number of rakahs, etc., one would have deemed to have fulfilled one’s obligation of prayer……..but if one were to eagerly await the prayer, does one’s ‘wudu’ in the most perfect manner, attends the congregation and strives his best to reach the masjid early so that he may offer his prayer in the first row behind the ‘imam’, maintains a high level of ‘khushoo’ and sincerity in his prayers, pays utmost attention to what is being recited from the Quran in the prayer….basically brings the sincerity of his state of mind to the level whereby he can ‘see’ the Lord, or at least know and believe with total and absolute conviction that the Lord Most Majestic can and does See him….that then would be the state or degree of ‘ehsaan’ in prayer!

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.300 (part)          Narrated by Abu Huraira

……The ‘man’ again asked, "O Allah's Messenger (saws). What is Ehsaan (i.e. excellence, perfection or benevolence)?" The Prophet (saws) replied, "Ehsaan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not achieve this state of devotion, then (at least, take it for granted that) Allah Sees you." …….. Then the ‘man’ left. The Prophet said (to his compaions), "Call him (that ‘man’) back to me." They went to call him back but could not see him. The Prophet (saws) said, "That was (Hadrat) Jibrael (a.s.) who came to teach the people their religion!"

 

One could merely recite the Quran and attain its due rewards….but ‘Ehsaan’ when reciting the Glorious Quran would be to perform the ‘wudu’, find oneself a quiet and secluded place, recite the Glorious Words of Allah Subahnah in a beautiful and slow rhythmic tone, paying utmost attention with absolute awe and humility to every single Word and every single Phrase which is being recited so that one’s hearts would soften, one’s eyes would become wet, one’s skin would tremble with the fear of Allah Subhanah, and one would want to spontaneously bow down in prostration unto their Lord ….that then would be the degree of ‘Ehsaan’ when reciting the Glorious Quran! 

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chatper 39 Surah Zumar verse 23:

23      Allah has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful message in the form of a Book consistent with itself (yet) repeating (its teaching in various aspects): the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble thereat; then their skins and their hearts do soften to the celebration of Allah's  Praises.  Such is the Guidance of Allah: He guides therewith whom He pleases, but such as Allah leaves to stray can have none to guide.

 

Thus regardless of whatever act or deed or rite of worship one does, time and time again the Lord Most Majestic has Guided and Commanded those who believe in Him and the Last Day to strive their absolute utmost to fulfill their deed to the degree of ‘Ehsaan’ or perfection or excellence, a degree where the ‘haqq’ or right of that deed is fulfilled, a degree where that deed cannot possibly be done better than that….that then would be the level of ‘Ehsaan’ in the Sight of Allah Subhanah!

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 195 (part):

195    … and do ‘ehsaan’; for Allah loves the ‘muhsineen’ (those who do their deeds with ‘ehsaan’ or excellence.)

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imraan verse 134 (part):

134    …. for Allah loves the ‘muhsineen’ (those who do their deeds with ‘ehsaan’ or excellence.)

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imraan verse 148:

148    And Allah gave them a reward in this world and the excellent reward of the Hereafter.  For Allah loves the ‘muhsineen’ (those who do their deeds with ‘ehsaan’ or excellence.)

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 93 (part):

93      …..  For Allah loves the ‘muhsineen’ (those who do their deeds with ‘ehsaan’ or excellence.)

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan