Ihsaan in Islam: Meaning, Levels, and Reward for a Muhsin
Literally, Ihsaan means, ‘doing something well’ or ‘behaving in a good manner’
What Is meaning of Ihsaan?what is the Reward of a muhsin
Ihsaan in Islam is the highest level of faith, where a believer worships Allah ﷻ with excellence, sincerity, and complete awareness that He is watching. Literally, Ihsaan means “doing something well” or “behaving in a good manner.” It also means to do something in a perfect manner or in the best way possible. It is the opposite of doing something badly or treating people poorly.
What Is Ihsaan?
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ defined Ihsaan in the famous Hadith of Jibreel:
قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ مَا الإِحْسَانُ قَالَ الإِحْسَانُ أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهِ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ (رواه مسلم)
Translation:
He (Jibreel) said: “Tell me about Ihsaan?” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “It is that you worship Allah ﷻ as if you see Him. And if you cannot achieve this state, then know that He sees you.” (Muslim)
Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ Explanation
When asked about Ihsaan, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“It is that you worship Allah ﷻ as if you see Him.”
If people are aware that Allah ﷻ is watching them, they will avoid sins and strive to please Him by doing good deeds. Awareness of Allah’s watchfulness brings sincerity and excellence in every action.
The Three Levels of Faith in Islam
Ihsaan in Islam is considered the highest level of religion. Someone who has reached Ihsaan is called a muhsin. Being a muhsin means a person is already a Muslim and a mu’min.
- Islam – The primary level, where a person fulfills the basic requirements of the religion. This person is called a Muslim.
- Iman – The middle level, where a person believes and feels that Allah ﷻ is watching everything they do. Such a person performs worship better than the average Muslim. This person is called a mu’min as well as a Muslim.
- Ihsaan – The highest level, where a person performs every act with excellence because they know with certainty that Allah ﷻ is watching.
Ihsaan in the Qur’an
The word Ihsaan appears many times in the Qur’an. For this article, “good” will be used as the translation.
Examples:
- Soorah Aali Imraan 3:172
“For those who did good among them and feared Allah is a great reward.” - Soorat an-Nahl 16:30
“For those who do good in this world is good.” - Soorat ar-Rahmaan 55:60
“Is there reward for good (anything) but good?”
Reward for a Muhsin
The Qur’anic verses show that the reward of a muhsin is great. Since Ihsaan in Islam is higher than Islam, the reward for a muhsin is better than that of a Muslim.
Paradise has many levels, and the highest levels are reserved for the best people — the muhsin. They will enjoy the greatest rewards and closeness to Allah ﷻ.
Key Lessons
- Ihsaan in Islam means worshipping Allah ﷻ as if you see Him, and if not, knowing that He sees you.
- The highest level of faith is Ihsaan.
- The reward for a muhsin is the highest levels of Paradise.
Discussion Points
- Why did the Prophet ﷺ define Ihsaan in this way?
- Why did Jibreel ask this question?
- Why does a muhsin deserve the highest levels of Paradise?
FAQs (FAQ Schema Ready)
Q1: What is the meaning of Ihsaan in Islam?
A1: Ihsaan in Islam means doing something in the best possible way, especially worship, with the awareness that Allah ﷻ is watching.
Q2: What is the Hadith of Jibreel’s definition of Ihsaan?
A2: It is to worship Allah ﷻ as if you see Him, and if you cannot, then know that He sees you.
Q3: Who is a muhsin?
A3: A muhsin is a person who has reached the level of Ihsaan, performing all actions with excellence and sincerity.
Q4: What is the reward of a muhsin?
A4: The reward is the highest levels of Paradise, closer to Allah ﷻ.
Q5: How is Ihsaan different from Islam and Iman?
A5: Islam is fulfilling basic duties, Iman is faith with awareness of Allah ﷻ, and Ihsaan is excellence in every act knowing Allah ﷻ sees you
