Part 2 (b): Levels of Ihsan- Heart Therapy

Read the Table of Contents of Heart Therapy

Read Part 2 (a): Ihsan

1. Obligatory Level: This level of Ihsan, whereby the deeds of the believer are made Hasan, requires that the intention for the act be sincerely for the sake of Allah and that the action itself be completed in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw).
   
   • Intention: “Actions are but by intentions and every man shall have only that which he intended.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
   • Compliance with the Sunnah: “He who innovates something in this matter of ours that which is not of it, will have it rejected.” (Bukhari)

2. Recommended Level: It is to perform one’s actions in the station of muraqabah (being watched).

   This is mentioned in the hadith of Jibril “… If you do not see Him then (remember) that He sees you” and is achieved when the person worships Allah knowing and feeling that He is continually watching over him. The greater this perception, the greater the level of Ihsan.

   * Always be aware of the fact that our deeds are constantly recorded by the angels.
   * Keep in mind that Heaven and Hell exist. So this will help us do the deeds which will take us to heaven.

3. Highest Level: The highest level is Ihsan is the performing of one’s actions in the state of Mushahadah (witnessing) and this is attained, as mentioned in the Hadith of Jibril, when one worships Allah ‘…as if you see Him..’ It is to witness the consequence of Allah’s attributes in His creation. The more a person’s certainiy and knowledge of Allah’s names and attributes increases, the more he ascribes anything that occurs in creation to a name or attribute to Allah, and this leads to attaining the ‘station’ of Mushahadah.

Read the next Part 2 (c): Witnessing Allah’s Name and Attributes in His Creation