View source for Ihsan

{{Short description|Islamic concept of social responsibility}}
{{For|the name|Ihsan (name)}}
{{distinguish|Ihsahn}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Islam and iman}}

'''''Ihsan''''' ({{langx|ar|إحسان}} {{transliteration|ar|ʾiḥsān}}, also romanized ''ehsan'') is an Arabic term meaning "to do beautiful things", "beautification", "perfection", or "excellence" (Arabic: {{transliteration|ar|husn}}, {{lit|beauty}}). ''Ihsan'' is a matter of taking one's inner [[faith]] (''[[Iman (Islam)|iman]]'') and showing it in both deed and action, a sense of social responsibility born from religious convictions.{{sfnp|Maqsood|1994|p=[https://archive.org/details/islam0000maqs/page/41 41]}}

== Meaning ==
In [[Islam]], Ihsan is the Muslim responsibility to obtain perfection, or excellence, in worship, such that [[Muslims]] try to worship [[God in Islam|God]] as if they see Him, and although they cannot see Him, they undoubtedly believe that He is constantly watching over them. That definition comes from the [[Hadith of Gabriel]] in which [[Muhammad]] states, "[Ihsan is] to worship God as though you see Him, and if you cannot see Him, then indeed He sees you". ([[Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari|Al-Bukhari]] and [[Al-Muslim]]).{{sfnp|Ayoub|2004|pp=68–69}} According to Muhammad's [[hadith]] "God has written ''ihsan'' on everything".<ref>{{CiteHadith|muslim|1955a|b=y}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-22 |script-title=ar:الكتب – جامع العلوم والحكم – الحديث السابع عشر إن الله كتب الإحسان على كل شيء- الجزء رقم1 |url=http://library.islamweb.net/newlibrary/display_book.php?idfrom=81&idto=86&bk_no=81&ID=19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822212905/http://library.islamweb.net/newlibrary/display_book.php?idfrom=81&idto=86&bk_no=81&ID=19 |archive-date=2017-08-22 |access-date=2020-04-22 |language=ar}}</ref>

== In relation to ''islam'' and ''iman'' ==
''Ihsan'' is one of the three dimensions of the Islamic religion ({{transliteration|ar|[[Din (Arabic)|ad-din]]}}): 
# ''[[Islam]]'' – voluntary submission to God, expressed in practicing the [[five pillars of islam]].
# ''[[Iman (Islam)|Iman]]'' – belief in the [[Iman (Islam)#The Six Articles of Faith|six articles of faith]].
# ''Ihsan'' – attaining perfection or excellence in the deployment of righteousness on Earth. This includes doing good things for the benefit of others, such as supporting the oppressed and vulnerable.

In contrast to the emphases of ''islam'' (what one should do) and ''iman'' (why one should do), the concept of ''ihsan'' is primarily associated with intention. One who "does what is beautiful" is called a ''[[Muhsin#Islamic term|muhsin]]''. It is generally held that a person can only achieve true Ihsan with the help and guidance of [[God]], who governs all things. While traditionally [[Islamic jurist]]s have concentrated on ''islam'' and [[Kalam|theologians]] on ''iman'', the [[Sufi]]s have focused their attention on ''ihsan''.{{sfnp|Chittick|2008|p=9}} Those who are ''muhsin'' are a [[subset]] of those who are ''[[mu'min]]'', and those who are ''mu'min'' are a subset of [[muslim]]s:

{{blockquote|From the preceding discussion it should be clear that not every Muslim is a man or woman of faith (''mu'min''), but every person of faith is a ''Muslim''. Furthermore, a Muslim who believes in all the principles of Islam may not necessarily be a righteous person, a doer of good (''muhsin''), but a truly good and righteous person is both a ''Muslim'' and a true person of faith.|{{harvp|Ayoub|2004|p=54}}}}

Some [[Islamic scholar]]s explain ''ihsan'' as being the ''inner'' dimension of Islam whereas [[shariah]] is often described as the ''outer'' dimension. ''Ihsan'' "constitutes the highest form of worship" ({{transliteration|ar|[[ibadah]]}}).{{sfnp|Ayoub|2004|p=54}} It is excellence in work and in social interactions. For example, ''ihsan'' includes sincerity during Muslim prayers and being grateful to parents, family, and God.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Ayoub |first=Mahmoud M. |title=Islam: Faith and History |year=2004 |author-link=Mahmoud M. Ayoub}}
* {{Cite book |last=Chittick |first=William C. |title=Sufism: a beginner's guide |date=2008 |publisher=Oneworld Publications |isbn=978-1-4356-2770-3 |location=Oxford |oclc=191803844}}
* {{Cite book |last=Maqsood |first=Ruqaiyyah Waris |url=https://archive.org/details/islam0000maqs/ |title=Teach Yourself Islam |date=15 September 1994 |publisher=[[Teach Yourself]] |isbn=978-0-340-60901-9 |series=Teach Yourself World Faiths |author-link=Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood |url-access=registration}}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book |last1=Murata |first1=Sachiko |title=The Vision of Islam |last2=William C. Chittick |publisher=[[I. B. Tauris]] |year=2000 |isbn=1-86064-022-2 |pages=267–282}}
*''The Mysteries of Ihsan: Natural Contemplation and the Spiritual Virtues in the Quran'' by James W. Morris
* {{cite book | last=Khan | first=M.A.Muqtedar | title=Islam and Good Governance: A Political Philosophy of Ihsan | publisher=Palgrave Macmillan US | year=2019 | isbn=978-1-137-54832-0 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tWWRDwAAQBAJ}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20181231183632/http://www.latinodawah.org/library/english/nawawihadiths.html#hadith2 Hadith of Angel Gabriel] Hadith #2 from An-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths

{{Sufism terminology}}
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[[Category:Sufism]]
[[Category:Islamic terminology]]
[[Category:Islamic ethics]]