Ihsaan

Ihsaan is a stage where a servant does Ibaadah with a state of mind that he is actually / absolutely seeing Allah Ta’ala.

A worker, who is aware that the gaze of his boss is on him, will do his best to perfect his work. He will want to give his boss a very good impression at all costs. He will have an extraordinary willpower that will make him do even a difficult job with joy and ease. At this stage, nothing will be difficult for him. Similarly, when a servant reaches the stage of Ihsaan, he will have an extraordinary willpower to practice Deen. He does things which others find difficult, with great joy without undergoing any hardship. 

He spends the entire night in Ibaadah but still, he feels that he has not done anything. When he places his head in Sajdah, he feels so close to Allah Ta’ala that he desires more. He desires to remain in Sajdah. He does not want to raise his head from Sajdah.

"O Allah! I ask you through Your beautiful names to grant me this stage." (Ameen)

If this stage seems difficult, a person must at least think that Allah Ta’ala is looking at him wherever he is. This is also sufficient to remain within limits. 

[English version of "Ihsaan" – Al Jamiat – Vol.2 No.6]