{http;//bit.ly/AZihsan} There are three stages of faith. Islam is surrender, or obedience to commands. Eeman is faith in the heart which empowers this obedience. Ihsan is the highest level, which means living in presence of God. Video uses Surah Shu’ra to demonstrate the condtion of Ihsan in Prophet Ibraheen AS.

1. Ihsan: Living in Presence of God DR ASAD ZAMAN Writeup: http://bit.ly/AZihsan
2. 2. Surah Ash-Shu’ara’ (The Poets) Ayah 69-89 Allah Tabarako wa T’aala lovingly mentions Ibraheem AS, honored with the title of His friend, as a vivid example of Ihsan, for us to follow The Quranic material – ayat, translations, audio – have been taken from website: Islam Awakened https://www.islamawakened.com/
3. 3. In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. ِ‫ح‬‫ه‬‫الر‬ ِ‫ن‬ َٰ‫م‬ْ‫ح‬‫ه‬‫الر‬ ِ ‫ه‬ ‫اَّلل‬ ِ‫م‬ْ‫س‬ِ‫ب‬ ‫يم‬
4. 4. ‫ا‬‫ْر‬‫ب‬ِ‫إ‬ ‫أ‬‫ب‬‫ن‬ ْ‫م‬ِ‫ه‬ْ‫ي‬‫ل‬‫ع‬ ُ‫ل‬ْ‫ت‬‫ا‬‫و‬ ‫يم‬ِ‫ه‬ Tell them the story of Abraham,
5. 5. when he asked his father and his people, “What do you worship?” ‫ت‬ ‫ا‬‫م‬ ِ‫ه‬ِ‫م‬ ْ‫و‬‫ق‬‫و‬ ِ‫ه‬‫ي‬ِ‫ب‬ ِ ‫ِل‬ ‫ال‬‫ق‬ ْ‫ذ‬ِ‫إ‬ ‫ُون‬ُُ‫ب‬ْ‫ْع‬
6. 6. They replied, “We worship idols, to which we are fully devoted.” ‫ظ‬‫ن‬‫ف‬ ‫ا‬ً‫م‬‫ا‬‫ن‬ْ‫ص‬‫أ‬ ُُُ‫ب‬ْ‫ْع‬‫ن‬ ‫وا‬ُ‫ل‬‫ا‬‫ق‬ ‫ين‬ِِِِ‫ا‬‫ع‬ ‫ا‬‫ه‬‫ل‬ ُّ ‫ل‬
7. 7. ‫ت‬ ْ‫ذ‬ِ‫إ‬ ْ‫م‬ُِ‫ون‬ُ‫ْع‬‫م‬ْ‫س‬‫ي‬ ْ‫ل‬‫ه‬ ‫ال‬‫ق‬ ‫ون‬ُ‫ع‬ُْ Abraham asked, “Can they hear you when you call upon them?
8. 8. ُّ ‫ر‬ُ‫ض‬‫ي‬ ْ‫و‬‫أ‬ ْ‫م‬ُِ‫ون‬ُ‫ْع‬ِ‫ن‬‫ي‬ ْ‫و‬‫أ‬ ‫ون‬ Or can they benefit or harm you?”
9. 9. They replied, “No! But we found our forefathers doing the same.” َٰ‫ذ‬ِ ‫ا‬‫ن‬‫اء‬‫آب‬ ‫ا‬‫ن‬ُْ‫ج‬‫و‬ ْ‫ل‬‫ب‬ ‫وا‬ُ‫ل‬‫ا‬‫ق‬ ‫ون‬ُ‫ل‬‫ْع‬ِْ‫ي‬ ِ‫ل‬
10. 10. Abraham responded, “Have you ˹really˺ considered what you have been worshipping— َٰ‫ذ‬ِ ‫ا‬‫ن‬‫اء‬‫آب‬ ‫ا‬‫ن‬ُْ‫ج‬‫و‬ ْ‫ل‬‫ب‬ ‫وا‬ُ‫ل‬‫ا‬‫ق‬ ‫ون‬ُ‫ل‬‫ْع‬ِْ‫ي‬ ِ‫ل‬
11. 11. you and your forefathers? ‫ون‬ُ‫م‬ُْ‫ق‬ ْ ‫اِل‬ ُ‫م‬ُُِ‫ؤ‬‫ا‬‫آب‬‫و‬ ْ‫م‬ُ‫ت‬‫ن‬‫أ‬
12. 12. They are ˹all˺ enemies to me, except the Lord of all worlds. ‫ر‬ ‫ه‬ ‫َّل‬ِ‫إ‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ل‬ ٌّ‫ُو‬ُ‫ع‬ ْ‫م‬ُ‫ه‬‫ه‬‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬‫ف‬ ‫ين‬ِ‫م‬‫ال‬‫ْع‬ْ‫ال‬ ‫ه‬‫ب‬
13. 13. ˹He is˺ the One Who created me, and He ˹alone˺ guides me. ‫ي‬ُِْ‫ه‬‫ي‬ ‫و‬ُ‫ه‬‫ف‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ن‬‫ق‬‫ل‬‫خ‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ذ‬‫ه‬‫ال‬ ‫ن‬
14. 14. He is˺ the One Who provides me with food and drink. ْ‫س‬‫ي‬‫و‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ن‬ُ‫م‬ِ‫ْع‬ْ‫ط‬ُ‫ي‬ ‫و‬ُ‫ه‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ذ‬‫ه‬‫ال‬‫و‬ ‫ين‬ِ‫ق‬
15. 15. And He ˹alone˺ heals me when I am sick. ‫ي‬ِِْ‫ش‬‫ي‬ ‫و‬ُ‫ه‬‫ف‬ ُ‫ت‬ْ‫ض‬ ِ ‫ر‬‫م‬ ‫ا‬‫ذ‬ِ‫إ‬‫و‬ ‫ن‬
16. 16. And He ˹is the One Who˺ will cause me to die, and then bring me back to life. ُ‫ي‬ ‫ه‬‫م‬ُ‫ث‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ن‬ُ‫ت‬‫ي‬ِ‫م‬ُ‫ي‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ذ‬‫ه‬‫ال‬‫و‬ ‫ين‬ِ‫ي‬ْ‫ح‬
17. 17. And He is ˹the One˺ Who, I hope, will forgive my flaws on Judgment Day.” ‫يئ‬ِ‫ط‬‫خ‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ل‬ ‫ر‬ِِْ‫غ‬‫ي‬ ‫ن‬‫أ‬ ُ‫ع‬‫م‬ْ‫ط‬‫أ‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ذ‬‫ه‬‫ال‬‫و‬ ‫ين‬ُِ‫ال‬ ‫م‬ ْ‫و‬‫ي‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ت‬
18. 18. “My Lord! Grant me wisdom, and join me with the righteous. ْ‫ق‬ ِ‫ح‬ْ‫ل‬‫أ‬‫و‬ ‫ا‬ً‫م‬ُِْ‫ح‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ل‬ ْ‫ب‬‫ه‬ ِ‫ب‬‫ر‬ ‫ين‬ ِ‫ح‬ِ‫ل‬‫ا‬‫ه‬‫ص‬‫ال‬ِ‫ب‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ن‬
19. 19. Bless me with honourable mention among later generations. ِ‫ف‬ ٍ‫ق‬ُْ ِ ‫ص‬ ‫ان‬‫س‬ِ‫ل‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ل‬ ‫ل‬‫ْع‬ْ‫اج‬‫و‬ ‫ين‬ ِ ‫ر‬ ِ‫خ‬ ْ ‫اْل‬ ‫ي‬
20. 20. And make me among those who will inherit the Garden of Bliss. ِ‫ة‬‫ه‬‫ن‬‫ج‬ ِ‫ة‬‫ث‬‫ر‬‫و‬ ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ن‬ْ‫ل‬‫ْع‬ْ‫اج‬‫و‬ ‫يم‬ِ‫ْع‬‫ه‬‫ن‬‫ال‬
21. 21. Forgive my father, for he is certainly one of the misguided ِ‫م‬ ‫ان‬ِ ُ‫ه‬‫ه‬‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ب‬ ِ ‫ِل‬ ْ‫ر‬ِِْ‫غ‬‫ا‬‫و‬ ‫ين‬ِ‫ال‬‫ه‬‫ض‬‫ال‬ ‫ن‬
22. 22. And do not disgrace me on the Day all will be resurrected— ُ‫ث‬‫ْْع‬‫ب‬ُ‫ي‬ ‫م‬ ْ‫و‬‫ي‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ن‬ ِ ‫ز‬ْ‫خ‬ُ‫ت‬ ‫َّل‬‫و‬ ‫ون‬
23. 23. the Day when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit. ُ‫ن‬‫ب‬ ‫َّل‬‫و‬ ٌ‫ل‬‫ا‬‫م‬ ُ‫ع‬ِ‫ن‬‫ي‬ ‫َّل‬ ‫م‬ ْ‫و‬‫ي‬ ‫ون‬
24. 24. Only those who come before Allah with a pure heart ˹will be saved˺.” ٍ‫ب‬ْ‫ل‬‫ق‬ِ‫ب‬ ‫ه‬ ‫اَّلل‬ ‫ى‬‫ت‬‫أ‬ ْ‫ن‬‫م‬ ‫ه‬ ‫َّل‬ِ‫إ‬ ‫يم‬ِ‫ل‬‫س‬
25. 25. The Quran is the word of God, a treasure of infinite value. Every aya’ contains depths of meaning, beyond capacity of humans to express in words. We will focus on the quality of “Ihsan” and extract some simple surface pearls of wisdom from these verses of the Quran.
26. 26. The Heart is built for M’aarifat Indeed in the body there is a lump of flesh, if it is good, the entire body will be good, and if it is corrupted, the entire body becomes corrupted, and that is the heart. (23:78) He it is Who hath created for you ears and eyes and hearts. Small thanks give ye! The Universe is far too small to contain Allah T’aala, but He enters the heart of a Mo’min. IHSAN: the transformation from “Admitting with the Tongue” to “Testifying with the Heart”
27. 27. Hearts of Unbelievers Testify to Falsity of Their Gods. At the start of the dialog, elders of Ibraheem AS tribe ADMIT that their Gods cannot help them or harm them. They are only following the customs of their elders. When Ibraheem AS destroyed the idols with an ax, and suggested that perhaps the biggest of them, holding the ax, had done it – it was convincing evidence that Idols cannot harm or hurt anyone. They knew it was impossible. So, MINDS also testify to the impotence of false idols. So WHY do We continue to worship false idols? Our minds and hearts are CLOUDED by false ideologies we have absorbed. CLEANSING the heart (TAZKIYA) is essential to progress towards IHSAN and QALB-E-SALEEM.
28. 28. To Differentiate Us from Them Our Hearts must testify to Allah We must KNOW that Allah T’aala hears us when we pray to Him We must KNOW that Allah T’aala ANSWERS our prayer – he helps us in times of difficulty How to create this knowledge within our hearts? The eyes, the ears, and the heart are sense organs. How can our hearts sense the presence of God?
29. 29. How is the Heart to be Cleansed? ISLAM: Acting upon the orders of Allah. But just action is not enough – it has to be done with the right intentions (HEART). All are in danger, except those who believe. Believers are in danger, except those who act. Actors are in danger, except those with Ikhlas. And those with Ikhlas are in the greatest danger. Ihdanas Siratal Mustaqeem – The long road to the Great Success – at every step, we are in need of guidance. At every step, we make mistakes – Recognizing mistakes, repenting, correcting, and trying again, repeatedly, persistently, sustainedly – this is the path, according to many of the elders. In every action, make an effort to ENGAGE the heart.
30. 30. Five Opportunities Every Day Standing in the presence of God. Engage heart at the beginning of Salat. (Islam) Imagine yourself in front of Ka’ba. Kiss the stone raise your hands and see the square building. Imagine a circle of angels around Ka’aba which form your saf. Say & FEEL: My prayer and my sacrifice/struggle, my living and my dying are ALL only for you O Allah, Lord of all creation.
31. 31. The Model of Ibraheem Da’wah must engage the hearts of the audience Hearts speak to hearts. We must fill our hearts with the LOVE of ALLAH, if we are going to make D’awah to the love of Allah. Your false Gods are the enemies of the truth, OBSTACLES on the path to Allah. And now, taking the name of ALLAH creates the LOVING Hamd – it is an automatic process – so much reflection (ZIKR) has been done on the name, that the response is triggered automatically
32. 32. (Allah) Who: CREATED me and GUIDED me Creation is the first creation (not birth) when Allah T’aala showed us His Beauty and Perfection as the Lord of all creation and took an OATH of fidelity from ALL of us. The EFFECT of this oath is printed on our hearts. That is why the message is a REMINDER. That is why CALLS to Allah, done with engaged hearts, are immensely powerful. They re-awaken powerful built-in messages.
33. 33. (When I am hungry) He feeds me (When I am thirsty) He gives me drink
34. 34. When I am sick He heals me BECOMING SICK IS A NATURAL PROCESS HEALING IS AN INTERVENTION OF GOD – AMAZING PROCESS
35. 35. He will give me death And bring me back to life THE ENGAGED HEART MOVES TO THE CONTEMPLATION OF THE AKHIRA
36. 36. From whom I have hope – that He will forgive my mistakes on the day of Judgement THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT IS THE GREATEST CRISIS WE WILL FACE ATTENTION IS NOW FOCUSED ON THAT DAY AND GOD
37. 37. Shifting of Audience: Demonstration of Ihsan Oh my Lord: Grant me Wisdom, and Join me with the righteous. Bless me with honourable mention among later generations. (complex, irrelevant, discussion of seeking fame) ‫ين‬ ِ‫ح‬ِ‫ل‬‫ا‬‫ه‬‫ص‬‫ال‬ِ‫ب‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ن‬ْ‫ق‬ ِ‫ح‬ْ‫ل‬‫أ‬‫و‬ ‫ا‬ً‫م‬ُِْ‫ح‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ل‬ ْ‫ب‬‫ه‬ ِ‫ب‬‫ر‬ ‫ين‬ ِ‫ر‬ ِ‫خ‬ ْ ‫اْل‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ف‬ ٍ‫ق‬ُْ ِ ‫ص‬ ‫ان‬‫س‬ِ‫ل‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ل‬ ‫ل‬‫ْع‬ْ‫اج‬‫و‬
38. 38. And make me among those who will inherit the Garden of Bliss. ِ‫ة‬‫ه‬‫ن‬‫ج‬ ِ‫ة‬‫ث‬‫ر‬‫و‬ ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ن‬ْ‫ل‬‫ْع‬ْ‫اج‬‫و‬ ‫يم‬ِ‫ْع‬‫ه‬‫ن‬‫ال‬ ِ‫م‬ ‫ان‬ِ ُ‫ه‬‫ه‬‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ب‬ ِ ‫ِل‬ ْ‫ر‬ِِْ‫غ‬‫ا‬‫و‬ ‫ين‬ِ‫ال‬‫ه‬‫ض‬‫ال‬ ‫ن‬ Forgive my father, for he is certainly one of the misguided
39. 39. “All creatures are [like] a family of God: and He loves most those who are kindest to His family.” Love of God translates to the love of the CREATIONS of God. Feeding the poor, out of the love of Allah – In the middle of contemplation of God, Ibraheem AS asks for forgiveness and guidance for his father. Goes on to ask that “Do not disgrace me on the day of judgement” and then reminds himself that the worldly blessings – wealth and children – will be of no use on that day. ONLY those with a pure heart will be saved. THIS is La-Ilaha (rejecting the worldly goods – wealth and power) and seeing the true goal, purification of the heart.
40. 40. Self-Analysis: Who is my AUDIENCE? Who do I want to please? Praise from whom makes me happy? Criticism from whom makes me sad, angry, bitter? THESE are my audience.
41. 41. Ihsan: Making Allah T’aala your audience Say, “Surely my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are all for Allah—Lord of all worlds” ُ‫ن‬‫و‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ت‬‫َل‬‫ص‬ ‫ه‬‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬ ْ‫ل‬ُ‫ق‬‫ين‬ِ‫م‬‫ال‬‫ْع‬ْ‫ال‬ ِ‫ب‬‫ر‬ ِ ‫ه‬ ِ ‫َّلل‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ت‬‫ا‬‫م‬‫م‬‫و‬ ‫اي‬‫ي‬ْ‫ح‬‫م‬‫و‬ ‫ي‬ُِِ‫س‬ُ‫ن‬‫و‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ت‬‫َل‬‫ص‬ ‫ه‬‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬ ْ‫ل‬ُ‫ق‬ ‫ا‬‫م‬‫م‬‫و‬ ‫اي‬‫ي‬ْ‫ح‬‫م‬‫و‬ ‫ي‬ُِِ‫س‬ ‫ين‬ِ‫م‬‫ال‬‫ْع‬ْ‫ال‬ ِ‫ب‬‫ر‬ ِ ‫ه‬ ِ ‫َّلل‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ت‬
42. 42. 

Links to Related Materials

1. Slides of this lecture: Ihsan.pptx
2. Reaching Beyond the Stars
3. Farewell to IIIE Students:
4. A First Lecture: Motivating Students
5. Urdu: Conversations with Students
6. Important Message for Students
7. Slides for: Unlearning Jahiliyya and Relearning Islam: http://bit.ly/PPTunlearn

Slides for Unlearning Jahilliyya and Relearning Islam