Ihsan � the Gnostic Knowledge of Mankind

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   Ihsan � the Gnostic Knowledge of Mankind 

By Abdalhaq Bewley

The Arabic word ihsan, which begins the title of this talk, comes from the verb ahsana which means t"o act well, to do something expertly, to master something", but although these meanings are indeed included in it, the word as it is used here comes from a well-known saying of the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in which he was asked to define the deen or life-practice he was sent to convey to mankind. He divided it into three parts: firstly Islam which he defined in terms of the five pillars, the actions every Muslim must perform; secondly Iman or faith which he defined in terms of the things every Muslim must believe; and thirdly Ihsan which he defined by saying, "It is to worship Allah as if you could see Him, for though you may not see Him, He crtainly sees you." In other words Ihsan involves the bringing together of the other two aspects of the deen by a human being who is in a state of intense awareness of the presence of his Lord.

Read the whole article from: Aisha Bewley's Website 

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Murabit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20 March 2004 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 369	Post Options Post Reply Quote Murabit Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Ihsan � the Gnostic Knowledge of Mankind Posted: 27 January 2008 at 4:28pm
	Ihsan � the Gnostic Knowledge of Mankind By Abdalhaq Bewley The Arabic word ihsan, which begins the title of this talk, comes from the verb ahsana which means t"o act well, to do something expertly, to master something", but although these meanings are indeed included in it, the word as it is used here comes from a well-known saying of the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in which he was asked to define the deen or life-practice he was sent to convey to mankind. He divided it into three parts: firstly Islam which he defined in terms of the five pillars, the actions every Muslim must perform; secondly Iman or faith which he defined in terms of the things every Muslim must believe; and thirdly Ihsan which he defined by saying, "It is to worship Allah as if you could see Him, for though you may not see Him, He crtainly sees you." In other words Ihsan involves the bringing together of the other two aspects of the deen by a human being who is in a state of intense awareness of the presence of his Lord. Read the whole article from: Aisha Bewley's Website
	"I am a slave. I eat as a slave eats and I sit as a slave sits.", Beloved, sallallahu alyhi wa-sallam.