Islam Commands Muslims to Practice

..............He who "does what is beautiful"................

"Perfection" or "Excellence:-The concept of Ihsan means that a Muslim is a responsible person and a person of quality where he does things in a very good manner, in a complete sense, in a nice and tasteful way and is never satisfied with anything other than a quality job in all that he/she does, motivated by realizing that Allah prescribed Ihsan to everything and to all deeds.

Muslims can be categorized as:

    * People of Iman – those who are good at faith but not good at Islamic deeds.

    * People of Islam – those who are good at Islamic deeds but not good in Islamic faith.

    * People of Ihsan – those who are good both in Islamic faith and deeds.


The term “amalan” in its selected form as mentioned in Surat Al-Mulk ayat no 2 implies any kind of deeds. It is not just the religious deeds (ibadah), but also all that we do which is lawful. It should be done according to the concept of Ihsan and we should exert our efforts to live up according to its implications. The way we look and dress, the way we eat, the way we sleep, our work, our profession, our da’wah, teaching and learning, our relationship with our family, relatives, neighbour, and with others in general – Ihsan should be observed and practiced in all these actions. These actions and good deeds can be considered as ibadah
The word "Ihsan" in Arabic is a derivative of the verb "ahsana," which means doing things better. Thus the literal linguistic meaning of Ihsan is doing the best, which is doing what God commanded us to do.

Ihsan is the highest of the three levels of faith and the closest to God. It is to worship Allah as if you are seeing Him. While you do not see Him, He truly sees you. Then, Ihsan means that a Muhsen is sure that Allah is seeing him/her in everything he/she says or does. Therefore, a Muhsen does his/her best to say and do only what pleases God and conforms to His commands. This is the level of righteousness, the level of perfection, the level of doing and saying the ultimate good, the level of Ihsan.

Abu Ya’ la Shad dad ibn Aus, radiyallaahu ‘anhu, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi Wasallam, said:

    “Verily, Allah has enjoined excellence (ihsan) with regard to everything. So, when you kill, kill in a good way; when you slaughter, slaughter in a good way; so every one of you should sharpen his knife, and let the slaughtered animal die comfortably.”

[Muslim]

On the authority of Omer Bin Al-Khattab, the second Caliph (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:
        One day while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (i.e. Prophet Muhammad, Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam), there appeared before us a man whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black; no signs of journeying were to be seen on him and none of us knew him. He walked up and sat down by the Prophet (Prophet Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam). Resting his knees against his (the Prophet's) and placing the palms of his hands on his thighs, he said:

O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.

The Messenger of Allah (May the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,

to perform the prayers,

to pay the Zakat(. Often rendered as alms-tax or poor due, it is a tax levied on a man’s wealth and distributed among the poor.) 

To fast in Ramadan, and

To make the pilgrimage to the House (Mosque (KABA) in Makkah), only if you are able to do so once in a life time
.

He said: You have spoken rightly, and we were amazed at him asking him (the Prophet Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) and saying that he had spoken rightly.

He said: Then, tell me about Iman. (Iman is generally rendered as religious belief or faith. However, being a fundamental term in Islam, the Arabic word has been retained.)

He (the Prophet Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in divine destiny, both the good and the evil thereof.

He said: You have spoken rightly.

He said: Then, tell me about Ihsan. (. In this context, the word ihsan has a special religious significance and any single rendering of it would be inadequate. Dictionary meaning for ihsan includes right actions, goodness, charity, sincerity, and the like. The root also means to master or be proficient at,)

He (the Prophet Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: It is to worship Allah as if you are seeing him, and while you see Him not yet truly He sees you.

He said: Then, tell me about the hour.(of the Day of Judgment.)
He (the Prophet Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: The one questioned about it knows no better than the questioner. He said: Then, tell me about its signs.

He (the Prophet Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and that you will see the barefooted, naked, destitute herdsmen competing in constructing lofty buildings.
Then, he took himself off and I stayed for some time. Then he (Prophet Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: O Omer, do you know who the questioner was? I said: Allah and His Messenger know better. He said: It was Jibril (Gabriel), who came to you to teach you your religion.

The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) told the truth.
   Hadith Imam Muslim...


Ihsan is a comprehensive concept. It denotes doing things completely, nicely and in a tasteful manner. It comprises four components:

  
    Sincerity (Ikhlas)
    Completeness
    Tastefulness (doing things in a nice manner), and
    Correctness: (doing things in the right way).

This concept is translated by commentators and interpreters as Excellence. Being a comprehensive concept, the term Ihsan cannot be translated word for word because there is no word in the English language that gives its exact meaning. Therefore, it is better to use it as it is.

Islam commands Muslims to practice and apply Ihsan in all that they do – hence it is an obligation (wajib).

It has been mentioned in the Qur’an as well. Allah the Almighty says:

“Verily, Allah enjoins Justice, and Ihsan and giving help to kith and kin…”

[Surah Al-Nahl (16): ayat 90]

In Surah Al-Mulk (67), ayat 2 this concept is mentioned as one of two main purposes of human creation, Allah the Almighty says: “The One Who created death and life so that He may test you which of you are best of conduct.”

simplicity and abstinence
Once, the Sahabas (R.A.) were discussing some worldly aspects. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) addressed them and said: “Will you not listen? Will you not listen? Will you not listen? Verily simplicity is a part of Iman. Verily simplicity is a part of Iman. Verily simplicity is a part of Iman”.

The lesson of simplicity and abstinence was so deeply entrenched in the hearts of the Sahabas (R.A.) that despite the fact that some of them owned much wealth, they lived a life of complete simplicity, spending their wealth on others and in the other avenues of Deen. Once, Hazrat Umar (R.A.) was partaking of his meal. Hafs bin Abul’As was sitting with him but not eating. Hazrat Umar (R.A.) enquired as to why he was not partaking of the food. He excused himself by saying that the food was very coarse and difficult to eat. He will return to his abode and eat the more luxurious food that was prepared for him. Upon this Hazrat Umar remarked: “Do you think that I am unable to give the command that a sheep be slaughtered for me, be skinned (and cooked); that flour be finely sieved and thinly baked breads be prepared there from; that raisins be mixed with butter-fat and water and mixed to a fine texture (a kind of desert eaten in those days)?” Hearing this Hazrat Hafs (R.A.) replied: “I see that you are acquainted with the luxuries of life?” Hazrat Umar (R. A.) remarked: “Yes! Had it not been for the fear that some of my good deeds would be decreased on the Day of Judgment, I would have joined you in your easy living”
While emulating the example of the Sahabas (R.A.) in its entirety is not an easy task, nor are we capable of doing so, we nevertheless must always keep in mind the abstinence in their lives. This will help to bring some degree of simplicity in our lives.

May Allah make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........

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