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Assalamu alaikum,

Dear brother Burhan,

Alhamdulillah this forum helps me lot to clear my several doubts. Allahumma Barik lak fi dduniya wa-al Akhira,

i've doubt - In first two verses of Surah Mulk & one of the last verses (verse 104) describes about Ahsan, Ihsan etc.

Dear Burhan, Can you please explain in the light of these verses what is Ahsan, Ihsan etc. I've read the hadeeth which Jibreel (a.s) teaching prophet's (s.a.w) companions what Ihsan is.

It would be better if you can explain more in the light of these verses.

Jazakkallah Khair

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Answer:

What is ehsan ahsan

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.

May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best of this world and the Hereafter for your kind comments of encouragement for our humble efforts in the propagation of the Truth. If our humble and modest efforts have helped even one brother or sister get closer to Allah and His Deen of Truth, then we would consider ourselves indeed fortunate to have been given this opportunity by the Lord Most Merciful to serve in His Cause. We hope, beg, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our shortcomings, and saves you, us, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire. Ameen.

Question: What is ‘ehsaan’?

The terms ‘ehsan’ or ‘ehsaan’ are derived from the Arabic root word ‘Hasan’ which literally means beautiful or excellent. The term in the limited English language would come closest 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’!

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!"

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!

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 heart 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.)

Your Question: ….i've doubt - In first two verses of Surah Mulk & one of the last verses (verse 104) describes about Ahsan, Ihsan etc. Can you please explain in the light of these verses what is Ahsan, Ihsan etc……I've read the hadeeth which Jibreel (a.s) teaching prophet's (s.a.w) companions what Ihsan is.

It would be better if you can explain more in the light of these verses.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 67 Surah Al-Mulk verses 1-2:

1 Blessed be He in Whose Hands is Dominion: and He over all things has Power.

2 He Who created death and life that He may try which of you is ‘ahsan-o’ (best or excellent) in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving

Respected brother, you have only mentioned ‘Verse 104’ but did not mention the Surah; we assume you meant the 18^th Surah al-Kahf…..

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 18 Surah Kahf verse 104:

104 Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring ‘yuhseno’ (excellence) by their works?"

The terms used in the above quoted Verses ‘ahsano’ and ‘yuhseno’ are merely derivatives of the term ‘Ehsaan’…..

In Verse 2 of Surah Al-Mulk, the Lord Creator declares His mission for the creation of death and life; ie. to test mankind and determine who amongst them does the most excellent deeds.

And in Verse 104 of Surah Kahf, the Lord All-Wise describes the deeds and the efforts of the disbelievers…..deeds which they assumed were to the degree of ‘ehsaan’ or excellence, but because of their disbelief and denial of Allah and the Last Day, their deeds would have absolutely no weight or significance in the Sight or Scales of Allah Subhanah.

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