-
The_Foundations_of_the_Islamic_Belief, page : 228
will imply doubt as to their acceptance by Allah, since such acceptance, despite the outward
fulfillment of all the prerequisites of validity, may be blocked by hidden causes unknown except to
Allah,
the Lord of lords of the Mighty Majesty. Hence it is desirable to entertain some doubts
concerning the
validity.
These, therefore, are the different reasons for the desirability of qualifying one's answers when
asked
about his belief.
With it we conclude the book of the Foundation of Islamic Belief.
The book concluded with the praise of Allah, the High and Allah praised our Master Muhammad, and
every chosen worshipper. The following principle is explained by Ahmad ibn ad-Darwish
(viii) Ihsan - Perfection
Page 56 of 56
In the fourth chapter, Imam Ghazali elaborated upon two of the three parts of the Religion; Islam
with
means submission and Iman which means belief. There is a third part which he did not discuss in this
book and that is Ihsan.
Simply, Ihsan in the beginning of Islam was referred to as Ihsan or Zuhd which means doing without;
a
form of purification. Later it became known as Sunni Sufism in which participants have an
unconditional
discipline of following the Sunni Order (Way of the Prophet).
Ihsan is mainly an ethical and spiritual course which respects and follows the scholars of Ihsan as
well as
the other two parties of scholars namely, the scholars of Iman (belief) i.e. Imam Ashari and Salaf
(first
generation) as well as the scholars of Islamic Jurisprudence i.e. Shafi'i, Hanballi, Maliki, and
Hanafi.
In simple words, Ihsan is based on three dimensions: For the sake of self cleansing, one asks Allah
for
forgiveness repeatedly, over and over again. This is followed by the multi repeated remembrance of
bearing witness that there is no god except Allah. Thirdly, by the abundant repeating of the the
praise of
Allah and His angels for Prophet Muhammad as prescribed in the Koran - the praise and peace be upon
him -.
During the time of Imam Ghazali, the practice of Ihsan was common and he too followed a spiritual
sheikh of Ihsan. In his book "Al Munqiz min Ad- Dalal" (The Safety from Deviation) he
investigated the validity of the roots, theory, and practices of many sects from Greek
philosophy to the
heritage of the Indians and Chinese. In this book he dissected and analyzed each sect
individually and
certified without any doubt that the Sufism of the Sunni Muslims was by far the best path to the
Creator.
Having a spiritual guide is highly recommended.
The undermentioned Prophetic quotation describes the three parts of the Religion - Islam, Iman and
Ihsan. "One day when we (the companions) were with the Messenger of Allah - the praise and peace be
upon him - a man with very white clothing and very black hair came to us. There was no sign of
travel
upon him and none
fulfillment of all the prerequisites of validity, may be blocked by hidden causes unknown except to
Allah,
the Lord of lords of the Mighty Majesty. Hence it is desirable to entertain some doubts
concerning the
validity.
These, therefore, are the different reasons for the desirability of qualifying one's answers when
asked
about his belief.
With it we conclude the book of the Foundation of Islamic Belief.
The book concluded with the praise of Allah, the High and Allah praised our Master Muhammad, and
every chosen worshipper. The following principle is explained by Ahmad ibn ad-Darwish
(viii) Ihsan - Perfection
Page 56 of 56
In the fourth chapter, Imam Ghazali elaborated upon two of the three parts of the Religion; Islam
with
means submission and Iman which means belief. There is a third part which he did not discuss in this
book and that is Ihsan.
Simply, Ihsan in the beginning of Islam was referred to as Ihsan or Zuhd which means doing without;
a
form of purification. Later it became known as Sunni Sufism in which participants have an
unconditional
discipline of following the Sunni Order (Way of the Prophet).
Ihsan is mainly an ethical and spiritual course which respects and follows the scholars of Ihsan as
well as
the other two parties of scholars namely, the scholars of Iman (belief) i.e. Imam Ashari and Salaf
(first
generation) as well as the scholars of Islamic Jurisprudence i.e. Shafi'i, Hanballi, Maliki, and
Hanafi.
In simple words, Ihsan is based on three dimensions: For the sake of self cleansing, one asks Allah
for
forgiveness repeatedly, over and over again. This is followed by the multi repeated remembrance of
bearing witness that there is no god except Allah. Thirdly, by the abundant repeating of the the
praise of
Allah and His angels for Prophet Muhammad as prescribed in the Koran - the praise and peace be upon
him -.
During the time of Imam Ghazali, the practice of Ihsan was common and he too followed a spiritual
sheikh of Ihsan. In his book "Al Munqiz min Ad- Dalal" (The Safety from Deviation) he
investigated the validity of the roots, theory, and practices of many sects from Greek
philosophy to the
heritage of the Indians and Chinese. In this book he dissected and analyzed each sect
individually and
certified without any doubt that the Sufism of the Sunni Muslims was by far the best path to the
Creator.
Having a spiritual guide is highly recommended.
The undermentioned Prophetic quotation describes the three parts of the Religion - Islam, Iman and
Ihsan. "One day when we (the companions) were with the Messenger of Allah - the praise and peace be
upon him - a man with very white clothing and very black hair came to us. There was no sign of
travel
upon him and none