IMAN, ISLAM AND IHSAN

Introduction:
Each term is linked to each other. It is related and dependent
on each other.
Iman is the foundation of Islam and ihsan. Without iman
there will be no islam and ihsan.
Iman is the firm belief in the articles of faith arising out of
knowledge about them.
Islam is a practical demonstration of iman. It involves the
application of the pillars and principles of Islam as an outer
action.
Islam tells us what should we do upon our belief.
It is a kind of practice of what we believed in.
 Ihsan focuses on human intentionality. It reflects the quality
of our actions.
It demands a good quality of ones actions.
IMAN
The arabic word literally means to know , to believe;
refers to knowledge and belief.
It is a firm belief out of knowledge.
The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said that iman is that you have faith/
belief in Allah, His messengers, His books, His angels, and
the last day- that is referring to the articles of faith.
The popular definition of iman defined by the Prophet
(p.b.u.h) is knowledge/ recognizing in the heart, voicing
with the tongue and performing with the limbs.
 So, someone who is mumin should possess all the three
components of iman.
Recognizing with heart means someone who has iman
must first know and recognize in the heart that
something is true.
A man who fails to use the heart in seeking the truth is a
man without a functioning heart or blind heart- the
heart is sick/rusted/locked/blind . Refer to 83:14, 47:24,
22:46.
Voicing with the tongue means that the hearts
recognition of the truth must be affirmed and expressed
through speech.
Performing amal with the limbs requires a commitment
to what have been acknowledged by the heart and
affirmed verbally by the tongue.
 So, we may say that iman is-
-a a state of mind and heart one has to do with the
recognition of the truth,
-commitment to the truth one recognizes ,
-activity on the basis of the truth he recognizes.
Islam is the practical reflection of iman in ones heart.
Iman and Islam are interrelated and connected with
each other.
It is just like the root and the branches of a tree. We
cannot imagine of a tree without its root. If the root is
well-maintained, the branches will beautifully emerge.
Likewise, if iman is present in a good form, all of his
acts would be regulated orderly.
 The relationship between iman and islam is similar to
the seed and fruits. Iman is the seed and Islam
represent its fruits. To get a good fruit must come from
the best seed.
In order to make sure the true Islam and to achieve
ihsan, we must built the strong foundation of iman first.
The narrower the concept of iman one possess, the
narrower will be the application of Islamic practices in
his life, and the narrower chance for him to achieve
ihsan.
Knowing that our iman can be increased and decreased,
we must as much as possible to acquire knowledge and
understanding in order to strengthen our iman.
ISLAM
Islam in arabic literally denotes submission, surrender, and
obedience to Allah.
Technically, Islam means to submit to Allah in the manner
shown by the Prophet Mohd (p.b.u.h).
So, Islam is the submission that confirms and affirms the
belief/ iman to be true and genuine.
Two kinds of submission:
a) Submission as fitrah
-The concept of fitrah affirms that man has originally good nature.
-If he follows this good nature of Islam, that means he has followed
his innate spiritual goodness, and if he chooses to disbelieve, he
would have gone against fitrah.
b) Submission as amanah
-It means surrender services to Allah.
-Recognizing his status or position to Allah as a slave, he has to fulfill
certain duties to Allah, such as, obeying His commandments and
avoiding all of His prohibitions.
 According to Ibn Taymiyyah,
- Islam is basically a kind of task.
- It is both the work of the heart and the work of the body to
apply the principles of Islam out of iman.
- Iman is an internal belief and Islam is an external behavior
of what a person says or does as a result of his inner belief.
According to Imam Abu Hanifah,
- Iman and Islam are one.
- Islam demands from its followers two things- belief and
practice.
Another literal meaning of Islam is peace. It signifies that
one can achieve real peace of the body and mind only
through submission and obedience to Allah.
IHSAN
It designates the quality of being good and beautiful.
To do/ to establish every positive quality. It reflects the
quality of our actions.
The word ihsan has been mentioned in 70 verses in the
Quran.
The Quran and the Prophet (p.b.u.h) considered ihsan as
one of the most desirable of human qualities.
There are several connotations that can explain the word
ihsan;
- to act as if one is seeing Allah.
- aware of Allahs presence.
Ihsan is closely related to the concept of ikhlas (sincerity).
The opposite of ikhlas is nifaq (hypocrite) and riya.
Hadith Jibril on Islam, Iman and Ihsan
On the authority of Omar, who said: One day while we were
sitting with the messenger of Allah 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. Resting his knees against his and placing the
palms of his hands on his thighs, he said:"O Muhammad, tell
me about Islam".
The messenger of Allah 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, to fast in Ramadhan, and
to make the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to do so."
He said:"You have spoken rightly", and we were amazed at
him asking him and saying that he had spoken rightly.
 He said: "Then tell me about iman."He said:"It is to believe in
Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and 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." He said: "It is to worship
Allah as though you are seeing Him, and while you see Him not
yet truly He sees you".
He said: "Then tell me about the Hour". He said: "The one
questioned about it knows no better than the questioner."
He said: "Then tell me about its signs." He said: "That the slave-
girl will give birth to her mistress and that you will see the
barefooted, naked, destitute herdsman competing in constructing
lofty buildings." Then he took himself off and I stayed for a
time.
Then he said: "O Omar, do you know who the questioner was?"
I said: "Allah and His messenger know best". He said: "He was
Jibril (Gabriel), who came to you to teach you your religion
[din]. (Muslim)
 Dimensions of Islam

Religion (din) in Islam has three dimensions:

Islam (submission)
Iman (faith)
Ihsan (doing what is beautiful)
The hadith of Jibril implies that religion in Islam
embraces
(1) rights way of doing things,
(2) right way of thinking and understanding, and
(3) right ways of forming intentions that lie behind the
activity.