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Ihsan – Quran 16:90
The second thing mentioned in the verse is goodness (ihsan). It is over and above justice and is the pinnacle of ethics and morality. It means that not only should a right be fulfilled, but that it be fulfilled in a manner that a person is generous and considerate in this regard. A person should give more than what he owes and should be happy to take what is less than his due. This attitude develops in a society the values of sympathy, compassion, sacrifice, sincerity, gratitude and magnanimity. As a result of these values life becomes sweet and blessed.
Ghamidi sahab wrote this in his tafsir of 16:90.
Are there any more resources to read about ihsan? Because it seems to just mean goodness and kindness. Because if it means to give more than you owe and it’s a command shouldn’t we always for example pay extra at shops. Or does it simply mean kindness?
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14 Replies
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Ihsan – Quran 16:90
updated 3 years, 11 months ago
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14
Replies
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Please see this from 24:12 to 31:32 for an understanding of ihsan:
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What’s the difference between ikhlass and ihsan then?
And what does ihsan then have to do with giving extra to a person you have lent money from?
Wouldn’t the ihsan simply be to make sure that you have given the full money and you didn’t try to cheat or find a way out of paying?
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Ikhlas refers to sincerity in doing something, while ihsan refers to trying to do something as best as possible.
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And paying extra for debts is not as best as possible is it? It is extra from the best way you could pay back
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I would like some clarification- I have had the concept that ‘ihsan’ means ‘perfection’. Is this correct? Or does it simply mean ‘virtue’ and ‘goodness’
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See if this clarifies it further, please refer to the video below from 20:23 to 26:55
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So it’s to do something well, in a good way- I’m a great way- not necessarily in its perfect way like the perfect way of wudu would include the extra sunnah
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I also have a related question. Are there different levels of Ihsan? And when these three are mentioned as levels if faith – Islam, Iman and Ihsan. Ghamidi sb says that these three aren’t levels and that the only true status to be achieved in anything you do is Ihsan.
Now, does this mean that our Islam and Iman should be done with Ihsan? In this way, this doesn’t become a separate level but rather a necessity for anything you do. Need some clarification on this.
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Also, ihsan definitely means giving/doing more as per its usage in the Quran. So how do we reconcile with all of these meanings?
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This is where this question started from. Ghamidi sahab wrote in his Tafsir (original post) that you should give more than your debt is due.
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Other than what Ghamidi sb wrote, the Quran seems to convey that Ihsan means doing more than what is required. It refers to all the Prophets and Anbiya as Muhsineen. Then the way Allah stresses His love for the muhsineen in the Quran “wallahu yuhhibul muhsineen” is unparalleled.
Al Raghib al Isfahahi, the Arabic literary scholar (author of Mufradat ul Quran) defines Ihsan as “giving more and expecting less than what is due.”
Thats why I asked about Adl and Qist in reference to Ihsan. I think that might solve it.
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Giving more than is due would mean then, that I should pay extra in a ship when I go to buy something?
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But are there any limitations to ihsan as to where we can follow it and where we simply can’t? This physical world can’t operate solely on the basis of ihsan. At some instances it becomes incumbent upon us to exercise Qist and at other times Adl.
(Unless we’re defining Ihsan the wrong way). Could exercising Adl or Qist ‘where appropriate, in a way that is appropriate’ also mean Ihsan? What is the role of Qist, Adl and Ihsan in the framework of a society? I can always give more, pardon others on an individual level. Its impossible on a societal level. This is what im trying to figure out.
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Hmm 🤔
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