Thirdly: iḥsān in workmanship and mastering it. Whenever a person manufactures something or undertakes a task, he is required to perform it with precision and bring it to completion.

The first category is the iḥsān that exists between the servant and his Lord. The Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him—clarified this when Gabriel questioned him in the presence of the Companions, as will be mentioned, saying: “iḥsān is that you worship Allah as though you see Him; and if you do not see Him, He certainly sees you.”

Thus, iḥsān between the servant and his Lord is to perfect the duty Allah has assigned him, performing it correctly and purely for Allah’s sake alone. An act is deemed an act of iḥsān only when it combines sincere devotion to Allah with conformity to the example of the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. The Prophet explained that iḥsān itself has two ranks, one higher than the other.

First: to worship Allah as though you see Him—that is, for your certainty and faith to reach the point where it is as if you behold Him directly. No hesitation, no trace of doubt remains; it is as though Allah were right before you, visible to your very eyes. Whoever attains this rank has reached the summit of iḥsān. Worshipping Allah as though you see Him stems from perfect certitude and perfect sincerity, so that it seems as if you literally see Him. Allah—majestic and exalted—is not seen in this worldly life; He will be seen only in the Hereafter. Yet you perceive Him with your heart until it is as though you see Him with your eyes. Accordingly, the people of iḥsān will be rewarded in the Hereafter by actually seeing Him, because they worshipped Him here as though they were already beholding Him.