Ihsan in short means beyond excellence. It means to do something with perfection, sincerely, going above and beyond what was expected.
In the famous Hadith of Angel Jibreel, the Prophet (PBUH) is asked, “Tell me about al-Ihsan.” He (the Prophet) answered, “It is that you worship Allah as if you see Him. And even though you do not see Him, [you know] He sees you.”
Those who do Ihsan, known as Muhsin, obtain the highest rank in Islam. Whereas Taqwa means to be conscious of Allah (SWT) in all matters and to save oneself from all evil and forbidden by Allah (SWT), Ihsan means to love Allah and complete dedication for the Deen of Allah (SWT).
One type of person completes the assignment that is expected of them. They follow all the rules and guidelines and don’t break the law. Another type of person goes beyond what is expected and finds ways to improvise, without asking for any recognition. If anything happens to the organization to which they owe allegiance they forego everything to establish the mission. They always think how the organization can grow, how can it be saved from harm.
Muhsin are the real strengths of Islam. The real purpose of Islam can only be achieved by those who do Ishan.
Some of the rewards that Allah (SWT) has promised for the Mushin are below:
REWARD WILL NOT BE LOST
وَاصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
And be patient, for indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good. Sura Hud 11:115
MERCY OF ALLAH IS NEAR
وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَاحِهَا وَادْعُوهُ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا ۚ إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good. Sura Al A’raf 7:56
WILL BE GIVEN INCREASE
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا ادْخُلُوا هَٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةَ فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ رَغَدًا وَادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُولُوا حِطَّةٌ نَّغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطَايَاكُمْ ۚ وَسَنَزِيدُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
And [recall] when We said, “Enter this city [i.e., Jerusalem] and eat from it wherever you will in [ease and] abundance, and enter the gate bowing humbly1 and say, ‘Relieve us of our burdens [i.e., sins].’ We will [then] forgive your sins for you, and We will increase the doers of good [in goodness and reward].” Sura Al Baqarah 2:58
ALLAH WILL BE WITH YOU
إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوا وَّالَّذِينَ هُم مُّحْسِنُونَ
Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who are doers of good. Sura An Nahl 16:128
ALLAH WILL LOVE YOU
وَأَنفِقُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوا ۛ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
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. Sura Al Baqarah 2:195
REWARD IS JANNAH
فَأَثَابَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِمَا قَالُوا جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَاءُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
So Allah rewarded them for what they said with gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. And that is the reward of doers of good. Sura Al Ma’idah 5:85
May Allah make us among those who are Muhsin.
And Allah knows best.
Related Links:
