A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.
Ihsan (spiritual excellence).
Ihsan encompasses two primary aspects.
The first is Ihsan in worship.
This is the highest rank of worship.
As the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, stated,
when Jibril, peace be upon him, asked him about Ihsan:
"It is to worship Allah as if you see Him,
for even if you do not see Him, He sees you."
Agreed upon.
He asked him this after having asked him about Islam and Iman (faith).
The second is Ihsan toward creation.
This includes the words of Allah the Exalted:
“Those who spend (of that which Allah hath given them) in ease and in adversity, those who control their wrath and are forgiving toward mankind; Allah loveth the good;” (3:134)
"And Allah loves the doers of good."
The perfection of Ihsan lies in fulfilling both matters together:
Ihsan in the worship of the Creator,
and Ihsan in one's dealings with creation.
Both matters are combined in the words of Allah the Exalted:
"And do not cause corruption upon the earth after its reformation,
and call upon Him in fear and aspiration;
indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good."
For His saying,
"And do not cause corruption upon the earth after its reformation,"
indicates Ihsan in one's dealings with creation,
while His saying,
"and call upon Him in fear and aspiration,"
indicates Ihsan in the worship of Allah the Exalted.
The verse then makes the attainment of both matters a condition for
receiving the mercy of Allah the Exalted:
"Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good."
Thus, the more excellent a servant is in their Ihsan,
the closer they are to the mercy of Allah, the Almighty and Majestic.
In this lies an encouragement toward Ihsan
that is clearly evident.