69. What is Islam, what is Iman and what is Ihsan?

Answer: Umar bin Khatthab (RA) explained this in a Hathees called “Hadhees Jibril (AS)”

بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِٱلرَّحِيمِ

It was narrated on the authority of Umar (RA), who said: While we were one-day sitting with the Prophet ﷺ, there appeared before us a man dressed in extremely white clothes and with very black hair. No traces of journeying were visible on him, and none of us knew him. He sat down close by the Prophet ﷺ, rested his knee against his thighs, and said, "O Muhammad ﷺ! Inform me about Islam."

Islam:

The Prophet ﷺ said, "Islam is that you should testify that there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger, that you should perform salah, pay the Zakah, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj to the House, if you are able to do so."

The man said, "You have spoken truly." We were astonished at his questioning him and telling him that he was right, but he went on to say, "Inform me about Iman."

Iman:

The Prophet ﷺ answered, "It is that you believe in Allah and His angels and His Books and His Messengers and in the Last Day, and in qadar (fate), both in its good and in its evil aspects." He said, "You have spoken truly." Then he (the man) said, "Inform me about Ihsan."

Ihsan:

The Prophet ﷺ answered, "It is that you should serve Allah as though you could see Him, for though you cannot see Him yet (know that) He sees you."

He said, "Inform me about the Hour." The Prophet ﷺ said, "About that, the one questioned knows no more than the questioner." So he said, "Well, inform me about the signs thereof." He said,

"They are that the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress, that you will see the barefooted, naked, destitute, the herdsmen of the sheep (competing with each other) in raising lofty buildings." Then he quoted the verse of Quran: 

" Verily, Allah! With Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour." There upon the man went off.

I waited a while, and then the Prophet ﷺ said, "O Umar (RA)! Do you know who that questioner was?" I replied, "Allah and His Messenger ﷺ know better." He said, "That was Jibril (AS). He came to teach you your religion."

الحمدلله