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Imam al-Nawawi's 40 Hadith · Hadith Two and Three

True Ihsan

The Three Levels of Your Deen

A stranger walks in and quizzes the Prophet (pbuh) on the entire religion. Watch what happens.

Islamic Studies · 40 Hadith, 9th and 10th Grade · about 60 minutes

Looking back

From Lesson 1 to this one

In Lesson 1 we ended on ihsan, excellence, and said: give your best in everything.

Today one conversation shows us exactly what ihsan means: the top of three levels of the deen, doing everything as if you can see Allah (SWT).

The scene

Part of Hadith 2 (the Hadith of Jibril) · the arrival

"While we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (SWT) (pbuh) one day, a man came to us with very white clothing and very black hair. No sign of travel was upon him, and none of us knew him. He sat down before the Prophet (pbuh), resting his knees against his and placing his hands on his thighs, and said: O Muhammad (pbuh), tell me about Islam."

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) · Sahih Muslim · [SAHIH] · part of a longer hadith

Islam: the outward

Part of Hadith 2 · the answer about Islam

The Prophet (pbuh) said: "Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah (SWT) and that Muhammad (pbuh) is the Messenger of Allah (SWT), to establish the prayer, to give the zakah, to fast in Ramadan, and to make the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to do so." The man said: "You have spoken truly."

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) · Sahih Muslim · [SAHIH] · part of a longer hadith

This is the level of action, what you do with your body: the five pillars.

Iman: the inward belief

Part of Hadith 2 · the answer about Iman

The man said: "Tell me about iman." The Prophet (pbuh) said: "It is to believe in Allah (SWT), in His (SWT) angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and to believe in divine decree (qadar), both the good and the evil of it." The man said: "You have spoken truly."

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) · Sahih Muslim · [SAHIH] · part of a longer hadith

This is the level of the heart, what you believe: the six articles.

Ihsan: the definition

Part of Hadith 2 · the answer about Ihsan

The man said: "Tell me about ihsan." The Prophet (pbuh) said: "It is to worship Allah (SWT) as though you see Him (SWT), and if you do not see Him, then indeed He sees you."

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) · Sahih Muslim · [SAHIH] · part of a longer hadith

This is the top level, the how: not just doing it, and not just believing it, but doing it beautifully.

"That was Jibril"

Part of Hadith 2 · the Hour, and the closing

The man said: "Inform me about the Hour." The Prophet (pbuh) said: "About that the one questioned knows no more than the questioner." [...] Thereupon the man went off. I waited a while, and then the Prophet (pbuh) said: "O Umar (RA), do you know who that questioner was?" I replied: "Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (pbuh) know better." He said: "That was Jibril. He came to teach you your religion."

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) · Sahih Muslim · [SAHIH] · part of a longer hadith

The whole deen was taught in one sitting, and the angel of revelation showed us that learning starts with asking.

Hadith 3: the five pillars

Hadith 3 · complete text

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ: شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَحَجِّ الْبَيْتِ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ

"I heard the Messenger of Allah (SWT) (pbuh) say: Islam has been built upon five: testifying that there is no god but Allah (SWT) and that Muhammad (pbuh) is the Messenger of Allah (SWT), establishing the prayer, giving the zakah, making the pilgrimage to the House, and fasting in Ramadan."

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) · Bukhari and Muslim (agreed upon) · [SAHIH] · complete hadith · Hadith 3 of al-Nawawi's 40

The answer about Islam that the Prophet (pbuh) gave Jibril also stands as its own hadith in the collection. We cover it now instead of later.

Built upon five

The Prophet (pbuh) chose a building word. Islam has been built upon five. Pillars are what a structure stands on.

  • Take one pillar away and everything above it shakes.
  • Pillars are not the whole building. The deen is more than these five acts.
  • The rest of the building is what Hadith 2 already named: iman, the belief inside, and ihsan, doing it all beautifully. Next we take ihsan into your own week.

Hold this picture. It comes back at the end of the lesson.

Surah Al-Alaq 96:14

He (SWT) sees you, always

Quran · Surah Al-Alaq 96:14 · full ayah

أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرَىٰ

"Does he not know that Allah (SWT) sees?"

Surah Al-Alaq 96:14 · translation: Saheeh International · full ayah

The answer about ihsan in Hadith 2 ended on this same truth. Ihsan is not only in prayer. It is in every unseen moment of your week.

Group activity · the skit

Same scene, two versions

Your group performs the same everyday situation twice. First the "no one is watching" version. Then the "ihsan, Allah (SWT) sees me" version. The difference is the whole point.

  1. Keep each version under one minute.
  2. Everyone has a role: actor, narrator, or director all count.
  3. Both versions must be the same situation, so the audience sees what changed.
CARD 1

A group project is due. No one will ever know who did which part.

CARD 2

You are praying at home, alone, tired, and you want to rush it.

CARD 3

A cashier hands you back too much change and does not notice.

CARD 4

Your parents are away for the weekend and asked you to keep the house clean.

CARD 5

The group chat is roasting a classmate who is not in it.

CARD 6

You find a phone or some cash on the floor of an empty hallway.

After the performances

What actually changed?

  1. What changed between version A and version B? Be specific. Not just "better."
  2. In version B, was Allah (SWT) more present, or was the person just more aware? What does that tell you about ihsan?
  3. Which situation is hardest to bring ihsan to, and why? Be honest.

Map one skit onto all three levels: doing the chore at all is Islam. Doing it because you believe Allah (SWT) asked is Iman. Doing it beautifully because you feel Him (SWT) watching is Ihsan.

Three levels, one deen

Teaching image (not a text): think of one house.

Level 1
Islam
The pillars the house stands on. The outward actions, the five pillars.
Level 2
Iman
What fills the house and gives it life. The belief, the six articles.
Level 3
Ihsan
Finishing every corner beautifully, even the ones guests never see.

All three are one religion. You are always at some level in every single act.

Exit ticket · write on your own

Your turn: one action, three levels

Pick one thing you do regularly: a prayer, a chore, schoolwork, or how you treat a sibling or a friend. Write three lines.

  1. The Islam level: the outward action itself.
  2. The Iman level: what you believe that makes you do it.
  3. The Ihsan level: one specific way you would do it differently if you truly felt Allah (SWT) watching you do it.
Islam› Iman› Ihsan

The question to carry with you

Every day, in every act, at every level, ask yourself one thing: am I doing this as if He (SWT) sees me?

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