The real explanation for Ihsan,
is the explanation given by our Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). Before,
having a deep look into the Hadeeth that throws great light on the great aspects
of the Dheen (religion), we will have a brief explanation of Ihsan. The lexical
meaning of "Ihsan" is help, aid, support etc. But, to understand the Qur'an and
Hadeeth, we have to see what the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) has used
to define the same. In the case of Ihsan our Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon
Him) has said, " It is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot
achieve this state then you must remember that He is seeing you" (roughly
worded). So, we can say that Ihsan consists of two parts -- 1. to worship Allah
as if we see Him 2. to worship with the thought that He is seeing us Both the
parts comprise of Ihsan and the Sufis have termed the first part as "Mushahada"
and the second part as "Muraakhaba". The Sufis have also explained that
Mushahada is superior to Murakhaba. The Sufis have also said that this Hadeeth
is the basis of Tasawwuf (Sufism). But for this Hadeeth, people would have
totally denied the validity of Tasawwuf (Sufism) and the Sufis. Another
important aspect of the Hadeeth is that it clarifies that Ihsan is very much
part of Dheen. The sentence "That was Jibreel who came to teach the people their
dheen (religion)", teaches us that Sufism is part of the Religion, Islam. Islam
and Iman can be learnt and practiced from the Ulemas who have studied the Qur'an
and Sunnah. But the concept of Ihsan can be learnt only from Ulamaye Billah
(Scholars of Allah), Arifeens (The known people) and Murshids (the Guides) who
have been gifted with the knowledge of the self and the knowledge of their Rabb
(Lord). Here, we give the whole text of the famous Hadeeth known by the names, "Hadeethe
Jibreel" and "Hadeethe Ihsan". Narrated Abu Huraira: One day while the Prophet
was sitting in the company of some people, (The angel) Jibreel came and asked,
"What is faith?" Allah's Apostle replied, 'Faith is to believe in Allah, His
angels, (the) meeting with Him, His Apostles, and to believe in Resurrection."
Then he further asked, "What is Islam?" Allah's Apostle replied, "To worship
Allah Alone and none else, to offer prayers perfectly to pay the compulsory
charity (Zakat) and to observe fasts during the month of Ramadan." Then he
further asked, "What is Ihsan ?" Allah's Apostle replied, "To worship Allah as
if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion then you must
consider that He is seeing you." Then he further asked, "When will the Hour be
established?" Allah's Apostle replied, "The answerer has no better knowledge
than the questioner. But I will inform you about its portents. When a slave
(lady) gives birth to her master. When the shepherds of black camels start
boasting and competing with others in the construction of higher buildings. And
the Hour is one of five things which nobody knows except Allah. From the Hadeeth,
it is very clear that it is not possible for all the people to attain the state
of Mushahadha (worshipping Him as if seeing Him). If it is possible then the
word, 'fa inlam' (if you can't or if you are not able to) would not have been
put there by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him). But being in the thought
that He is seeing us is possible for everyone. Before proceeding with the
explanations of Muraakhaba and Mushahadha, I want to make one thing clear. Since
the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) has used the word, 'Antha'budallaha'
(worship Allah), it does not mean that we should try to be in the state of Ihsan
only during our prayers. In fact, it is due to our misleading thought that we
have confined the term Ibadath (worship) in Salah (the regular prayers). Are not
Sawm (fasting), Zakath (giving compulsory alms) and Hajj(pilgrimage to Mecca)
also Ibadath (worship)? Is not living according to the Shariath(laws put forth
by the Qur'an and Sunnah) Ibadath? In fact, every act of an Abid(slave) is
Ibadath (worship). So, it would be incorrect to say, that the state of Ihsan is
possible only during a particular period. The state of Ihsan is possible and is
required to be present in the Mumins (believers) all through the day, all the
time. The Sufis have said and proved that it is possible to be in the state of
Ihsan and some sufis have even told that being in the state of Ihsan is Ibadath.
Allah is seeing all of us and our actions irrespective of our religion, caste or
creed and actions. This is very much clear from the Qur'an and no body has any
doubt over it. But, being in the thought that He is always seeing us, is
something which has to be brought into our lives. If this thought gets into our
mind, then the chances of trespassing the Shariath is totally ruled out. Allah
is not seeing our body alone but also our thoughts. So, a person who has
attained the state of always being in the thought that Allah is seeing him, his
actions and thoughts will never go against His Lord's wish and will never forget
His Lord. Now comes the question, From where is Allah seeing us and How is He
seeing us? Here comes the concept of Allah's omnipresence. Though everyone
accepts that Allah sees us all, most of the people don't accept the theory of
omnipresence of Allah. Well, I am not going to debate on that and who are we to
debate once Allah has made it clear in the Qur'an that ' huwa ma'akum ayna ma
kuntum' (He is with you, wherever you are Qur'an 57:4). Allah is present
everywhere and sees us from everywhere. He sees from the person standing
opposite to us, He sees from the person behind us, He sees from the chair we are
sitting, He sees from the keyboard we are typing, He sees from the computer
monitor, He sees from our hands, legs and what not..... This experience and
spirit will come to us once we understand that the Sifathe Basarath (the
characteristic of Seeing) that belongs to Allah is 'Zaathy' (His own) and is
present where ever He is Present and He is present everywhere. This
understanding will come only through the Faizan (blessing) of a Kamil Shaikh.
The Sahabas attained this state through the Faizan of their Shaikh, in reality
the only Shaikh, Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). May Allah, shower His
blessings on us to attain this state of Ihsan.