Ihsan, Core Principles, and Steadfastness in Islam (Part 5)
“Al-Ajwibat-us-Sadidah ‘ala al-As’ilat-ir-Rashidah” – (The Sound Answers to the Rightly-Guided Questions) – (Part 5)
By: ‘Allamah Zayd ibn Muhammad ibn Hadi al-Madkhali (rahimahullah)
Urdu Translation by: Umm Muhammad Khushnuma Muslihuddin
Question 7: What is Ihsan and what is its evidence from the Qur’an and Hadith?
Answer: The concept of Ihsan was explained by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in clear words as follows:
“أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ”.
“Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion, then (take it for granted that) Allah is watching you.” – [Sahih al-Bukhari: 50, and Muslim: 9]
This means that you should worship your Lord in such a way that the sense of His greatness, closeness, and watchfulness is present in your heart. This will create fear and reverence for Allah in your heart, and in this state, you will neither be neglectful in His obedience nor commit any sin due to His greatness and fear.
Evidence for Ihsan from the Qur’an and Hadith:
Allah, the Lord of the worlds, has said:
{وَاَحۡسِنُوۡا اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يُحِبُّ الۡمُحۡسِنِيۡنَ} – [Al-Baqarah: 195]
Translation: “And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.”
In another place, He stated:
{اِنَّ اللّٰهَ مَعَ الَّذِيۡنَ اتَّقَوْا وَّالَّذِيۡنَ هُمۡ مُّحۡسِنُوۡنَ} – [An-Nahl: 128]
Translation: “Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who are doers of good.”
Similarly, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الْإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ”. “Verily, Allah has prescribed Ihsan (perfection) in all things.” [Sahih Muslim: 1955]
Question 8: What are the fundamental principles that we are commanded to know and act upon in this world, and about which we will be questioned in the grave and on the Day of Resurrection?
Answer: The principles that we have been made responsible for knowing and acting upon, and about which we will be questioned in the grave and on the Day of Resurrection, are three:
(1) Allah
(2) Islam
(3) The Messenger
📍 (1) Allah
This refers to the Being whose divinity is acknowledged, meaning He alone is the true object of worship, and only He is worthy of worship.
📍 (2) Islam
Islam is, in fact, to surrender to Allah with Tawhid (monotheism), to obey and be subservient to Him, and to completely disassociate from Shirk (polytheism), and to free oneself from it and its followers.
📍 (3) The Messenger This refers to the last of all prophets and messengers, Muhammad ibn Abdullah (peace be upon him), who was sent to all of humanity as a bearer of good tidings, a warner, a caller to Allah by His permission, and a shining lamp. Allah has commanded us to obey him, follow him, and to act upon what he brought, both outwardly and inwardly, until death comes to us.
Question 9: What is the meaning of the “Istiqaamah” (steadfastness) that Allah has enjoined upon His servants in His Book and which the Prophet (peace be upon him) guided to in his Sunnah? Also, what are its immediate and hereafter benefits?
Answer: The meaning of Istiqaamah is to remain firm upon the truth and to adhere to it with consistency in every field—creed, worship, dealings, morals, da’wah (calling to Islam), and jihad. In view of its greatness and importance, Allah has commanded His servants to it in various ways. Sometimes through a general command that includes the entire Ummah, as Allah said:
{فَاسۡتَقِيۡمُوۡۤا اِلَيۡهِ وَاسۡتَغۡفِرُوۡهُ} – [Fussilat: 6]
Translation: "So take a straight course to Him and seek His forgiveness."
And sometimes by specifically addressing the Prophet (peace be upon him), and his Ummah follows him in this, because he is their role model. This has been stated in several places, as Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala said in Surah Hud:
{فَاسۡتَقِمۡ كَمَاۤ اُمِرۡتَ وَمَنۡ تَابَ مَعَكَ} – [Hud: 112]
Translation: "So remain on a right course as you have been commanded, [you] and those who have turned back with you [to Allah]."
And in Surah Ash-Shura, He said:
{فَلِذٰلِكَ فَادۡعُ ۚ وَاسۡتَقِمۡ كَمَاۤ اُمِرۡتَۚ وَلَا تَتَّبِعۡ اَهۡوَآءَهُمۡۚ} – [Ash-Shura: 15]
Translation: "So to that [religion] invite, [O Muhammad], and remain on a right course as you are commanded and do not follow their inclinations."
And sometimes by mentioning the immediate and hereafter reward for those who adopt Istiqaamah, as Allah said:
{اِنَّ الَّذِيۡنَ قَالُوۡا رَبُّنَا اللّٰهُ ثُمَّ اسۡتَقَامُوۡا فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُوۡنَۚ (١٣) اُولٰٓئِكَ اَصۡحٰبُ الۡجَنَّةِ خٰلِدِيۡنَ فِيۡهَا ۚ جَزَآءًۢ بِمَا كَانُوۡا يَعۡمَلُوۡنَ} – [Al-Ahqaf: 13-14]
Translation: "Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allah," and then remained on a right course - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. (13) Those are the companions of Paradise, abiding eternally therein as reward for what they used to d1o."
Similarly, the Prophet (peace be upon him) also encouraged Istiqaamah, when a person asked him:
“O Messenger of Allah, tell me something about Islam which I can ask of no one but you. He (peace be upon him) said: Say: ‘I believe in Allah’ (آمنت بالله), and then be steadfast.” [Sahih Muslim: 38]
The collective meaning of all these texts is that steadfastness upon the truth and firmness on it, as has just been mentioned, is the path to salvation and the highway to happiness in both worlds. It is the most direct means and the strongest and best way to attain the pleasure of the Lord, as well as the path to obtaining high stations in those gardens which are mentioned in Surah “Ar-Rahman” of the Qur’an for the Ummah of the Qur’an.
As a result of steadfastness upon the truth and firmness on it, many immediate (worldly) and future (hereafter) benefits are obtained, some of which have been mentioned above, and some more are: peace and tranquility of the heart, and the congratulations and glad tidings of the angels that descend upon the heart of the one who is firm on the truth, is proud of it, and invites towards it, as Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala said in His promise to those who adopt steadfastness on the straight path:
{تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ (٣٠) نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَاؤُكُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ (٣١) نُزُلًا مِّنْ غَفُورٍ رَّحِيمٍ} – [Fussilat: 30-32]
Translation: "Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allah," and then remained on a right course - the angels will descend upon them, [saying], "Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised2. (30) We were your allies in the worldly life and in the Hereafter. And you will have therein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you request [or wish] (31) As accommodation from a [Lord who is] Forgiving and Merciful."
There are many other verses with similar meanings.
When you see someone other than yourself whom Allah, the Lord of Glory, has blessed with wealth, knowledge, health and well-being, status, children, and other blessings, then say: “O Allah, I ask You of Your bounty,” as Allah Ta’ala said: {وَسۡئَـلُوا اللّٰهَ مِنۡ فَضۡلِهٖ ؕ} – [An-Nisa: 32].
Translation: "And ask Allah of his bounty."
As for feeling jealous, regretful, and sad whenever you see Allah’s blessing upon someone, this is only to burn and cause pain to your own self.
[Al-Allamah Ibn Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) “Al-Liqa’ Ash-Shahri” (39)]
