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Umar bin Khattab (ra) narrated in the Hadeeth of Jibreel, that Muhammad (saw) said, O Muhammad, tell me about

Islam, The Messenger Muhammad (saw) said, Islam is to testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to perform the prayers, to the zakat, to fast in Ramadan, and to make the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to do so. Tell me about Emaan, he (saw) said, It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His Messengers, and the Last Day, and to believe in divine destiny, both the good and the evil thereof. Tell me about Ihsan, he (saw) said, It is to worship Allah as though you are seeing Him, and while you see Him not truly He sees you. He (saw) said, O Umar, do you know who the questioner was? I said Allah and His Messenger know best. He (saw) said, It was Jibreel, who came to teach you your Deen. Reported in Bukhari The grades of Emaan and Islaam are derived from this fascinating Hadeeth of Jibreel (as), as he (saw) said, It was Jibreel, who came to teach you your Deen. Reported in Bukhari There is a clear grading between Emaan and Islaam and whoever says they are the same then they are mistaken. Some scholars have said it, and say Emaan and Islam are the same. A great scholar by the name of Imam Ibn Hazm al-Andalusi (rh) said, in his book Muhalla, Emaan and Islam is the same thing. And he brought evidences to prove his case. However, the great scholars of Islam have mistakes so we need to take their good and leave their mistakes. It is clear that there is a kind of grading in the Hadeeth of Jibreel which comprises the Deen, so these are the three grades of the Deen. 1. The highest is Al-Ihsan, - Muhsin (he reaches a stage of Islam as if you are seeing him) 2. Its middle is Al-Emaan Mumin (includes Islam) 3. Its least is Al-Islam Muslim (includes Emaan in the six pillars) The Muhsin, Mumin and Muslim are in grades, the Muhsin is the highest, the Mumin is the middle and the one who is a Muslim is the lowest. Allah (swt) describes these three types of people in Surah al-Faatir, Then We caused to inherit the Book (Quran) those we have chosen of Our servants; and among them is he who wrongs himself, and among them is he who takes a medium course, and among them is he who is foremost in good deeds by permission of Allah. [Faatir (35):32-35] The Grades of the Ummah of Muhammad (saw) is the following: -He who wrongs himself: meaning those who commit sins and persists in them is a Muslim

- He who takes a medium course: meaning those who perform the obligations and avoid the unlawful is a Mumin - He who is foremost in doing good deeds: meaning those who perform the obligations and supererogatory actions is a Muhsin This ayah clearly derives that the Muslim, Mumin and Muhsin are not the same. The grade of a person is dependant on whether he is a sinner, or he is consistent in doing good deeds and avoids evil, or he is foremost in good deeds and supererogatory acts. It is possible that one who wrongs himself (i.e. the Muslim) can reach the level of a Muhsin. Allah (swt) says, Verily the Muslims (those who submit to Allah in Islam) men and women, the Mumin (believers) men and women( al-Ahzab (33 : 35) In this ayah (verse), Allah (swt) mentions the Muslim and Mumin together, indicating that there must be a difference between the two. Whenever there is a comparison between Muslim and Mumin in a single text, then Emaan is higher in grades than Islam like in the Hadeeth Marfu which says, And which Islam is best? The Prophet (saw) replied: Emaan. Musnad Ahmed Allah (swt) says, Then We evacuated the Mumins (believers) who were therein, but We found not therein any but one Muslim household. And We left therein a sign for those who fear painful chastisement. [(51): 35-37] In the above ayah, Allah (swt) mentions that before He punished the people of Lut (as) the Mumins were evacuated but did not find any but one Muslim household. So, is this proof that Mumin and Muslim is the same thing? No, like we mentioned earlier that whenever the phrase Mumin and Muslim are mentioned together in a single text then Mumin is higher in grades than Muslim. Every Mumin is a Muslim but not necessarily every Muslim is a Mumin, and we explain this in further detail later on. And which Islam is best? The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: Emaan. Musnad Ahmed A Muslim to reach the level of a Mumin requires actions of good deeds and to refrain from evil, whereas the Murjiyah say otherwise and state that every Muslim is guaranteed to be a Mumin in the eyes of Allah, which is incorrect. Abu Naeem narrated from Sufyaan Ath-Thawree (rh) that he said: We say that we are Muminoon (only with) approval (i.e. by saying Inshaa Allah) and they (the Murjiyah) say that we are (guaranteed) Muminoon in the eyes of Allah. (Yilyaat Al-Awliyah, Vol 7/29)

Therefore, everyone in Islam (Muslim) is not necessarily in Emaan (Mumin) but when he reaches Emaan (Mumin), Islam is automatically there, and in the same way, when he has reached Ihsan (Muhsin) then Emaan (includes Islam) is already there. So we say, the one who is in Islam is a Muslim, the one who is in Emaan is a Mumin and the one who is in Ihsan is a Muhsin. Every Muhsin who has reached the stage of Ihsan is a Mumin, and everyone who is a Mumin is a Muslim, but not necessarily every Muslim is a Mumin and not necessarily every Mumin is a Muhsin. Muhammad (saw) said, When a person commits zina (fornication), Emaan (faith) leaves him, until it is like a cloud over his head Sunan Abu Dawud authentic according to Albaani The Emaan leaving a person who sins is proof that not everyone who is Muslim is a Mumin. The Emaan leaving him stipulates that there is a distinction between Emaan (which includes Islam) and Islam (which includes the 6 pillars of Emaan). The leaving of Emaan does not mean he has become a disbeliever because Major sin does not take someone out of the fold of Islam. The Khawarij, a deviant sect, use this evidence to kill those who commit Major sin, and these people are deviant and not from Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah. Muhammad (saw) said, None of you (truly) believe (have Emaan) until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself. Bukhari Again, this is stating when he loves for his brother what he loves for himself then he has reached the stage of Emaan (Mumin). Allah (swt) says, Look how we favored (in provision) some of you over others but the Hereafter is greater on degrees (of difference) and greater in distinction. [al-Israa: 21] Allah (swt) describes in the hereafter that some will be of greater grades and distinctions, indicating again that there are grades in people. Lets look to another Hadeeth to further explain the grades of the Deen. Once a man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and asked: What is Islam? The Prophet (peace be upon him) answered him: To submit your heart to Allah and for the people to be safe from your tongue and your hand. The man then asked: And which Islam is best? The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: Emaan. The man then asked: So what is Emaan? The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: To believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His Messengers, and resurrection after death. Then the man asked: Which deeds are best? The Prophet replied: Emigration (Hijrah). The man asked: What is emigration. The Prophet replied: To part with evil. The man asked: So

which emigration is best? The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: Jihad in Allahs cause. Musnad Ahmad This Hadeeth points towards ranks/level in the Deen, the lowest rank is Islam and whats higher than Islam is Emaan, then Hijrah, and finally Jihad in the path of Allah. The best Islam is to reach Emaan The best Emaan is to reach Hijrah The best Hijrah is to reach Jihad in the path of Allah This Hadeeth also indicates that Islam consists of not only tongue and limbs but also the heart, and to reach this level is the minimum requirement of a Muslim, as once you enter into Islam it automatically includes Emaan in the six pillars. Then when one reaches Emaan, he has reached the level of a Mumin and this level consists of leaving sin and doing good deeds. The one who has reached the stage of Hijrah has Emaan, and the one who has reached the stage of Jihad must have reached the stage of Hijrah because he cannot do Jihad without Hijrah. The one who has reached the stage of Jihad has reached the highest grade of the Deen as there is nothing higher in rank than to perform Jihad in the path of Allah. To perform Jihad is the topmost part of the Deen and there is no-one higher and equal to him. Muhammad (saw) said, Then shall I tell you of the peak of the matter, its pillar and its topmost matter? I said, Yes, O Messenger of Allah. He (saw) said, The peak of the matter is Islam; the pillar is prayer; and its topmost part is Jihad Tirmidhi Allah (swt) says, Have you made the providing of water for the pilgrim and the maintenance of the Holy Masjid equal to [the deeds of] one who believes in Allah and the Last Day and fights in the cause of Allah? They are not equal in the sight of Allah and Allah doesnt guide the wrong doing people. The one who have believed, emigrated [hijrah] and striven in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives are greater in rank in the sight of Allah and it is those who are the attainers [of success]. [at-Tawbah: 19-20] Share

Reply With Quote 17th September 2009

#2 Mu'awiya Senior Member

Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,785 Thanks: 3 Thanked 23 Times in 15 Posts Rep Power: 57 Re: The Grades of Ihsan, Emaan and Islam asalaam alaikum Nouman Ali Khan explained in his tafseer lessons of Juzz 'Amma that when Allah says; Ya ayuhaladheena 'aamanu [Oh you who believe] - this is referring to the Muslims in general. But when He refers to a people as Mu'minoon, then they are of a higher rank than the Muslims (i.e. they have gone through trials and remained steadfast in emaan - so they have the title of Mu'min). He continues that Allah does criticize those who claim to have emaan - aladheena 'aamanu (i.e. Ya ayuhaladheena 'aamanu maa lakum? [Oh you who believe, what is wrong with you? - then He will mention a mistake or sin they did]) But Allah never criticizes the Mu'minoon. Try checking it out insha Allah.

Allahu a'lam.

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