Ihsan
/ɪhˈsɑːn/noun
In Islam, spiritual excellence expressed through sincere worship and virtuous conduct.
Did you know?In the famous Hadith of Gabriel, ihsan is described as worshipping God as though you see Him—or knowing that He sees you.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*ḥsn
“Reconstructed root associated with goodness, beauty, and excellence”
Pre-Islamic Arabic
Arabic
ḥasuna
“To be good, beautiful, or excellent”
Pre-Islamic Arabic
Arabic
ḥusn
“Beauty, goodness, or excellence”
7th Century
Quranic Arabic
iḥsān
“Doing what is beautiful or good; moral and spiritual excellence”
8th–10th Centuries
Classical Arabic
iḥsān
“A central virtue involving sincere devotion, benevolence, and perfect conduct”
Modern English
English
ihsan
“A transliterated Islamic term for spiritual excellence and virtuous action”