the meaning of Islam and Iman and Ihsan according to the hadith of gabriel

Hadith e Gabriel

Arabic Text

حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا كَهْمَسٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ يَعْمَرَ، قَالَ كَانَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ تَكَلَّمَ فِي الْقَدَرِ بِالْبَصْرَةِ مَعْبَدٌ الْجُهَنِيُّ فَانْطَلَقْتُ أَنَا وَحُمَيْدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحِمْيَرِيُّ حَاجَّيْنِ أَوْ مُعْتَمِرَيْنِ فَقُلْنَا لَوْ لَقِينَا أَحَدًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَأَلْنَاهُ عَمَّا يَقُولُ هَؤُلاَءِ فِي الْقَدَرِ ‏.‏ فَوَفَّقَ اللَّهُ لَنَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ دَاخِلاً فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَاكْتَنَفْتُهُ أَنَا وَصَاحِبِي فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ صَاحِبِي سَيَكِلُ الْكَلاَمَ إِلَىَّ فَقُلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ إِنَّهُ قَدْ ظَهَرَ قِبَلَنَا نَاسٌ يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ وَيَتَفَقَّرُونَ الْعِلْمَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنْ لاَ قَدَرَ وَالأَمْرُ أُنُفٌ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ إِذَا لَقِيتَ أُولَئِكَ فَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِنْهُمْ وَهُمْ بُرَآءُ مِنِّي وَالَّذِي يَحْلِفُ بِهِ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ لَوْ أَنَّ لأَحَدِهِمْ مِثْلَ أُحُدٍ ذَهَبًا فَأَنْفَقَهُ مَا قَبِلَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ ثُمَّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ قَالَ بَيْنَا نَحْنُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذْ طَلَعَ عَلَيْنَا رَجُلٌ شَدِيدُ بَيَاضِ الثِّيَابِ شَدِيدُ سَوَادِ الشَّعْرِ لاَ يُرَى عَلَيْهِ أَثَرُ السَّفَرِ وَلاَ نَعْرِفُهُ حَتَّى جَلَسَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَسْنَدَ رُكْبَتَيْهِ إِلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ وَوَضَعَ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَى فَخِذَيْهِ وَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الإِسْلاَمِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ الإِسْلاَمُ أَنْ تَشْهَدَ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَتُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةَ وَتُؤْتِيَ الزَّكَاةَ وَتَصُومَ رَمَضَانَ وَتَحُجَّ الْبَيْتَ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلاً ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ صَدَقْتَ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَعَجِبْنَا لَهُ يَسْأَلُهُ وَيُصَدِّقُهُ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الإِيمَانِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ صَدَقْتَ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الإِحْسَانِ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ السَّاعَةِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ مَا الْمَسْئُولُ عَنْهَا بِأَعْلَمَ مِنَ السَّائِلِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ أَمَارَاتِهَا ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَنْ تَلِدَ الأَمَةُ رَبَّتَهَا وَأَنْ تَرَى الْحُفَاةَ الْعُرَاةَ الْعَالَةَ رِعَاءَ الشَّاءِ يَتَطَاوَلُونَ فِي الْبُنْيَانِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ فَلَبِثْتُ ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ يَا عُمَرُ هَلْ تَدْرِي مَنِ السَّائِلُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَإِنَّهُ جِبْرِيلُ أَتَاكُمْ يُعَلِّمُكُمْ دِينَكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

English Text

Yahya b. Ya’mur said:

The first to speak on Divine decree in al-Basrah was Ma’bad al Juhani. I and Humaid b.’Abd al-Rahman al-Himyari proceeded to perform HAJJ or UMRAH. We said: would that we meet any of the Companions of the Apostle of Allah (May peace be upon him) so that we could ask him about what they say with regard to divine decree. So Allah helped us to meet ‘Abd Allah b. Umar who was entering the mosque. So I and my companion surrounded him, and I thought that my companion would entrust me the task of speaking to him. Then I said: Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman, there appeared on our side some people who recite the Quran and are engaged in the hair-splitting of knowledge. They conceive that there is no Divine decree and everything happens freely without predestination. He said: When you meet those people, tell them that I am free from them, and they are free from me. By Him by Whom swears ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar, if one of them has gold equivalent to Uhud and he spends it, Allah will not accept it from him until he believes in Divine decree. He then said: ‘Umar b. Khattab transmitted to me a tradition, saying: One day when we were with the Apostle of Allah (May peace be upon him) a man with very white clothing and very black hair came up to us. No mark of travel was visible on him, and we did not recognize him. Sitting down beside the Apostle of Allah (May peace be upon him), leaning his knees against his and placing his hands on his thighs, he said: tell me, Muhammad, about Islam. The Apostle of Allah (May peace be upon him) said: Islam means that you should testify that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is Allah’s Apostle, that you should observe prayer, pay ZAKAT, fast during RAMADAN, and perform Hajj to the house (i.e., KABAH), If you have the meant to go. He said: You have spoken the truth. We were surprised at his questioning him and then declaring that he spoke the truth. He said: now tell me about faith. He replied: It means that you should believe in Allah, his angels, his Books, his Apostles and the last day, and that you should believe in the decreeing both of good and evil. He said: you have spoken the truth. He said: now tell me about doing good (Ihsan). He replied: it means that you should worship Allah as though you are seeing him; if you are not seeing him, he is seeing you. He said: Now tell me about the hour. He replied: The one who is asked about it is no better informed than the one who is asking. He said: Then tell me about its signs. He replied: That a maidservant should beget her mistress, and that you should see barefooted, naked, poor men and shepherds exalting themselves in buildings. ‘Umar said: He then went away, and I waited for three days, then he said: Do you know who the questioner was, Umar? I replied: Allah and his Apostle know best. He said: He was Gabriel who came to you to teach you your religion. (SunanAbiDawud: 4678)

Explanatory Notes on Hadith

Importance of this Hadith

• Named as Umm al-Sunnah
• Determined as foundation of Islam
• Recorded by every famous book of Hadith
• Commentaries of the people of knowledge on this Hadith for example Sharah Hadith e Jibraeel by Sheikh Muhsinal-Abbad. 

Literal Meaning of Islam, Iman and Ihsan

Islam: (اسلام)To surrender, to submit, Islam is derived from the Arabic root "Salama": submission and obedience. Thus the literal meaning of Islam is surrender of one’s will i.e. losing oneself for the sake of God and surrendering one’s own pleasure for the pleasure of God.

Iman: The word ‘Iman’  (ايمان)has been derived from ‘aman’ meaning peace. Its literal meaning is to provide peace and tranquility. But in its technical sense the word ‘Iman’ is used with the prepositional letters (Lam) or (Ba). In this form its literal meaning is to have trust in and to testify.

Ihsan: Ihsan (إحسان‎), also spelled ehsan, is an Arabic term meaning perfection or excellenceis derived from Arabic word ‘husn’. It is a matter of taking one's inner faith (iman) and showing it in both deed and action, a sense of social responsibility borne from religious convictions.

Literary Meaning of Islam, Imam and Ihsan

Islam has three stages: Islam, Iman, and Ihsan.

Islam: The meaning of Islam is as defined by the Prophet PBUH when he was asked by the Angel Gabriel AS: “To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is His Prophet PBUH, to establish the prayers, to give Zakah, to fast the month of Ramadan, and to make pilgrimage to Makkah, if one is able to do so”. 

Iman: The Prophet PBUH said that Iman is, "To believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, to believe in meeting Him, to believe in His Messengers, the Resurrection and the predestination." This is the meaning of Islam and Iman if they are mentioned in one context.  However, if only one of them is mentioned, then each one encompasses the meaning of the other one.  If the word Islam only is mentioned, it includes the meaning of Iman, and vice-versa.By the definitions of Islam and Iman, we notice that Iman is about inwardly actions, and Islam is about outside actions.

Ihsan:Ihsan is exclusively the highest status of religion, its meaning is:"To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, He sees you."  This is the definition of Ihsan as stated by the Prophet PBUH.That’s to say that Ihsan has two stages: the highest one is to worship Allah as if you see Him; if you cannot attain this status of worship, then worship Him being certain that He sees you and that He is All-Aware of your actions and deeds.Allah knows best.

Difference between Islam, Iman and Ihsan:

The three fundamentals of al-Dinare: Islam, Iman, and Ihsan.

1. There is a gradation. Islam is the beginning. Iman is a higher level. Ihsan is the highest level.
2. Islam is outward manifestation, dhaahir. Iman is in the heart, baatin. Ihsan applies to both Islam and iman.
3. Iman is knowledge (ilm), testament(qawl) and action(amal). It is acceptance in the heart(tasdiiq bi al qalb) affirmation by the tongue (iqraar bi al lisaan) and work performance by the body(amal bi al jawarih). Islam is a pre-requisite for iman. You cannot have iman without having Islam. Ihsan is excellence and perfection of action. It represents perfection in both Islam and Iman. It is excellence in worship, work, and in any social action. It is worship of Allah in the full knowledge that He is seeing you even if you cannot see Him.

References from Qur’an and Sunnah

Islam:

“The Bedouins say, ‘We believe.’ Say, ‘You believe not, but you only say, ‘We have surrendered (in Islam), ‘for Faith (iman) has not yet entered your hearts.’” (al-Hujurat: 49:14)

“A Muslim is one who avoids harming Muslims by his tongue or hands” is an indication that all external actions are included under the category of Islam.

Similarly, leaving those things that are prohibited is also included under the classification of Islam, as it was narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “One of the best characteristics of an individual’s Islam is that he leaves what doesn’t concern him.”

Imam:

“The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this Qur’an) are recited unto them, they (i.e. the Verses) increase their faith. (al-Anfal; 8:2-4)

Abu Hurayrah also narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “An adulterer, at the time of committing illegal sexual intercourse is not a believer; and a thief, at the time of stealing, is not a believer; and a person at the time of drinking an alcoholic drink is not a believer.”

“By God, he is not a believer, by God, he is not a believer, by God, he is not a believer”.  The Companions of the Prophet enquired: “Who is that person about whom you are saying this? “He said in reply “It is the person from whose misconduct his neighbor is not safe.”

Ihsan:

“Neither you (O Muhammad) do any deed, nor recite any portion of the Qur’an, nor you (O mankind) do any deed (good or evil), but We are Witness thereof, when you are doing it. (Yunus: 11:61)

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: A man said to Messenger of Allah (PBUH): "I have relatives with whom I try to keep the ties of relationship but they sever relations with me; and whom I treat kindly but they treat me badly, I am gentle with them but they are rough to me." He (PBUH) replied, "If you are as you say, it is as if you are feeding them hot ashes, and you will be with a supporter against them from Allah as long as you continue to do so".

'Abdullah bin 'Amr Al-'as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "The person who perfectly maintains the ties of kinship is not the one who does it because he gets recompensed by his relatives (for being kind and good to them), but the one who truly maintains the bonds of kinship is the one who persists in doing so even though the latter has severed the ties of kinship with him".