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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

Where we left off

From last lesson to this one

Last time we ended on ihsan, excellence. We said: give your best in everything.

Today we find out exactly what ihsan means, and where it fits inside the whole religion.

One conversation. Three levels. The top level is 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

He 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.

Hadith 3: the five pillars

Hadith 3 · complete text

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 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.
  • So what gets built on top of them? That is the rest of this conversation.

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

Iman: the inward belief

Part of Hadith 2 · the answer about Iman

He 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

He 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 (SWT), then indeed He (SWT) 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.

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

Ihsan is not only in prayer. It is in every unseen moment of your week.

"That was Jibril"

Part of Hadith 2 · the Hour, and the closing

The man then asked about the Hour. The Prophet (pbuh) said: "The one questioned about it knows no better than the questioner." Then the man left. The Prophet (pbuh) waited, then said: "That was Jibril, who came to teach you your religion."

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

The whole deen, taught in one sitting. The angel of revelation modeled how to learn.

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 frame of the house. The outward actions, the five pillars.
Level 2
Iman
What holds it up inside. 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 stranger is gone. The question stays.

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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