It starts with Islam, which has five pillars. Then it’s iman (faith), which has six pillars. Finally, it’s Ihsaan (excellence), the uppermost level in faith, which only has one pillar:
أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ
“That you worship Allah as if you can see him. If, you can’t do that, then at least know that He can see you.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
One who acts upon Ihsaan is called a Muhsin, and in essence, it’s in reference to someone who never stops doing good nor aims for a half-finished job. Their slogan in life is excellence in the face of every circumstance.
“Verily Allah has prescribed ihsaan (perfection) in all things. Thus if you kill, kill well; and if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters.” [Muslim]
A Muslim who practices Ihsaan is a responsible person and a person of high character. He does things in the best manner, in a pleasant and tasteful way, and is never satisfied with anything other than a quality job in all that he does.
This was what Prophet Yusuf alaihis salaam was all about.
Consider the sheer number of times where the description of Ihsan appears side by side with Yusuf alaihis salaam’s name in Surah Yusuf:
(a) Allah said:
وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ آتَيْنَاهُ حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا وَكَذَلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“And when Yusuf reached maturity, We gave him judgement and knowledge. And thus We reward the Muhsineen (the doers of good).”
(b) Allah said, speaking about Yusuf alaihis salaam:
نُصِيبُ بِرَحْمَتِنَا مَنْ نَشَاءُ وَلَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“We touch with Our mercy whom We will, and We do not allow the reward of the Muhsineen (those who do good) to be lost”
(c) Behind bars, inmates said to him about their dreams:
نَبِّئْنَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِ إِنَّا نَرَاكَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“..Inform us of its interpretation; indeed, we see you to be of the Muhsineen (those who do good).”
(d) Yusuf alaihis salaam’s brothers said to him, despite not having recognised him as their brother:
يَا أَيُّهَا الْعَزِيزُ إِنَّ لَهُ أَبًا شَيْخًا كَبِيرًا فَخُذْ أَحَدَنَا مَكَانَهُ إِنَّا نَرَاكَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“O ruler, indeed he has a father who is an old man, so take one of us in place of him. Indeed, we see you from the Muhsineen (the doers of good).”
(e) Yusuf alaihis salaam’s brothers said to him towards the end of the story:
أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنْتَ يُوسُفُ قَالَ أَنَا يُوسُفُ وَهَذَا أَخِي قَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّهُ مَنْ يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“Are you indeed Yusuf?!” He said ‘I am Yusuf, and this is my brother. Allah has certainly favoured us. Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient, then indeed, Allah does not allow the reward of the Muhsineen (those who do good) to be lost.’”
Notice from these verses that Yusuf alaihis salaam was described as a Muhsin:
- By both family members and by strangers;
- During both his times of weakness (in prison) and strength (in the palace);
- And by both human beings and their Creator!
These are the true people of Ihsaan; people who do not allow the changing circumstances of life to change them, but rather, regardless of their situation, their priority is: “How will I behave as a Muhsin in this circumstance?”
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