ABSTRACT
We have already explained the meaning of islam, and we shall now explain the difference between islām, īmān and ihsān. We shall show the first, the intermediate and the final stages [of faith] by means of the famous tradition about the interrogations of Gabriel, when he appeared in the garb of a bedouin and sat so close to the Prophet that their knees touched. He said to the Prophet, 'O Apostle of God, what is islām?' The Prophet replied, 'To bear witness that there is no God but Allāh, that I am a messenger of God, to observe prayer, pay the zakat, fast in the month of Ramadān and perform the pilgrimage if you are able to do so.' Gabriel said, 'You have spoken the truth.' He then asked, 'What is īmān?' The Messenger replied, 'To believe in God, his angels, his scriptures, his messengers, the Last Day; to believe also in the qadar (determination of good and evil).' Gabriel said, 'You have spoken the truth.' He then asked, 'What is ihsān?' The Prophet replied, 'To worship God as though you see him, but if not, to know that he sees you.' Gabriel said, 'You have spoken the truth.' He finally asked, 'When is the Hour?' The Prophet replied, 'The one who is asked about it does not know more than the one asking.' Gabriel then arose and departed, and the Prophet said, 'That was Gabriel who came to teach you about your religion.' In this way the Prophet distinguished between the meaning of islām and īmān. Islām, however, is sometimes used in the sense of outward submission, and in this sense there is no difference between the faithful and the hypocrite. God says, 'The bedouins say, 'We believe.' Say, 'You do not believe;' rather say, 'We submit."1 Thus the Qur'ān distinguishes between the two words.
