Islam, Īmān and Iḥsān

Arabic

… فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْإِسْلَامِ. قَالَ: الْإِسْلَامُ أَنْ تَشْهَدَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَتُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةَ، وَتُؤْتِيَ الزَّكَاةَ، وَتَصُومَ رَمَضَانَ، وَتَحُجَّ الْبَيْتَ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا …

Translation

Jibrīl came in the form of a man and asked about Islām, Īmān, and Iḥsān. Islām is to testify that none is worthy of worship but Allah, to establish ṣalāh, give zakāh, fast Ramadan, and perform ḥajj if able. Īmān is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and the divine decree — its good and its evil. Iḥsān is to worship Allah as though you see Him; and if you do not see Him, He sees you.

Narrator

ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb

Source

Muslim 8

Commentary

Classical scholars call this the Hadith of Jibrīl — the religion's three-layered anatomy in one sitting. Islām is the outward submission, īmān the inward belief, iḥsān the spiritual refinement. All three must move together for the religion to be upright.