What is Self-purification and Ehsan? Explain it in the light of Quran and Sunnah, also describe its individual and collective impacts.

Introduction

Islam addresses both the outer actions of a person and the inner state of the heart. Fiqh deals largely with the outward, whereas Tazkiyah and Ehsan deal with what lies within. Together they turn formal religion into a living character. A person may pray, fast and give charity, but the Quran and Sunnah ask something further: is it done sincerely, with excellence, and does it change the person who does it?

Meaning of self-purification

Tazkiyah means both to cleanse and to grow. Self-purification (tazkiyah al-nafs) therefore involves two things: removing spiritual diseases, such as pride, envy, greed and hypocrisy, and cultivating virtues, such as sincerity, patience, gratitude and humility.

Meaning of Ehsan

Ehsan comes from husn, meaning beauty or goodness. It means doing something in the best possible manner and going beyond what duty requires.

Ehsan towards Allah

The Prophet ﷺ defined it in the famous Hadith of Jibril: "It is to worship Allah as if you see Him; and although you do not see Him, He sees you" (Bukhari, Muslim).

Ehsan towards creation

This means treating people with excellence and kindness, giving more than is owed and accepting less than is due. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah has prescribed Ihsan in all things" (Muslim), and in that same hadith he extended it even to the slaughter of an animal, which is to be done without causing needless suffering.

Their relationship

Tazkiyah is the path, and Ehsan is the highest station along it. The Hadith of Jibril describes three levels of religion: Islam (outward practice), Iman (inner belief) and Ihsan (excellence). A person moves toward Ihsan as the self is purified.

Tazkiyah and Ehsan in the Quran

Purification as the key to success.

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ

"He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself." (Al-A'la 87:14)

The mission of the Prophet ﷺ.

لَقَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًۭا مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ …

"Certainly did Allah confer favour upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses, purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom." (Aal-e-Imran 3:164)

Ehsan as a divine command.

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَٱلْإِحْسَٰنِ …

"Indeed, Allah commands justice and excellence…" (An-Nahl 16:90)

Allah's love for those who practise it

The verse also shows what Ehsan looks like in daily life: giving in all conditions, restraining anger and forgiving people.

ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِى ٱلسَّرَّآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَٱلْكَٰظِمِينَ ٱلْغَيْظَ وَٱلْعَافِينَ عَنِ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

"Those who spend in ease and hardship, who restrain anger and pardon people. And Allah loves the doers of good." (Aal-e-Imran 3:134)

Repelling evil with good

The Quran presents this as an approach that can turn an enemy into a friend.

وَلَا تَسْتَوِى ٱلْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ٱدْفَعْ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُۥ عَدَٰوَةٌۭ كَأَنَّهُۥ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌۭ

"And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel evil by that which is better, and thereupon the one between whom and you is enmity will become as though he were a devoted friend." (Fussilat 41:34)

Tazkiyah and Ehsan in the Sunnah

His own example

The Prophet ﷺ prayed at night until his feet swelled. When asked why, since he had been forgiven, he replied: "Should I not be a grateful servant?" (Bukhari, Muslim). This is Ehsan in worship.

Conduct towards others

He forgave those who persecuted him. Hazrat Anas (RA) served him for ten years and said he never once rebuked him with so much as "Uff" (Bukhari, Muslim).

Teachings on the heart

He said: "Allah does not look at your appearance or your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds" (Muslim). He also said that actions are judged by intentions (Bukhari, Muslim).

Care in daily work

He taught that Allah loves that when one of you does a job, he does it well (Al-Bayhaqi, Shu'ab al-Iman), which brings Ehsan into the workplace.

Training the companions

Through companionship, worship and example, he changed a harsh society. Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) gave all his wealth for the cause, and Hazrat Umar (RA) carried food to the poor on his own back at night. The tradition continued in Imam al-Ghazali, Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani and Shah Waliullah, and in the Sufi tradition of the subcontinent at its best.

Individual impacts

Sincerity and peace of mind

A person freed from showing off and from seeking praise is more settled, and is free from worry over what others think.

… أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ

"…Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured." (Ar-Ra'd 13:28)

Self-control

Tazkiyah strengthens a person against anger, lust and greed, and gives moral strength in the face of temptation.

God-consciousness at all times

One who believes that Allah sees him behaves the same way in private as in public.

Quality of work

A person of Ehsan does a job well, whether or not it is checked.

Resilience

Patience and gratitude help in hardship, and reliance on Allah relieves fear of failure.

Higher purpose

Life is seen as an opportunity to please Allah and serve others.

Collective impacts

Trust and honesty

Markets and offices work better when people keep their promises without having to be forced to.

Less corruption

A civil servant with Ehsan will not take a bribe even if there is no audit. Pakistan's anti-corruption laws would be far more effective with such people in office.

Family harmony

Good treatment of parents, spouses and children stabilises society. The Quran commands Ehsan to parents directly after the worship of Allah (Al-Isra 17:23).

وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَٰنًا …

"And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment." (Al-Isra 17:23)

Social welfare

People of Ehsan spend on the poor without seeking any return. Generous citizens who build hospitals, schools and welfare trusts, as with the late Abdul Sattar Edhi's work in Pakistan, show this principle in action.

Peace and forgiveness

A society that prefers forgiveness to revenge can end cycles of feuding. The Prophet's ﷺ pardon at Makkah remains the greatest example.

Excellence in institutions

Ehsan creates a culture of quality in schools, hospitals, courts and businesses, which is needed for national development.

A caution

Tazkiyah must not become withdrawal from society or be limited to rituals and spiritual claims. Nor should it be misused by those who exploit people in the name of spirituality. Its true test is honest conduct towards others.

Conclusion

Self-purification is the cleansing and growth of the self, while Ehsan is the excellence of worship and of conduct that results from it. The Quran makes them the key to success, and the Prophet ﷺ made them his mission and his way of life. For an individual, they bring sincerity, self-control and peace. For society, they bring trust, honesty, family harmony and welfare. Pakistan's reform therefore requires both good laws and good people, and Tazkiyah and Ehsan are how such people are formed.

The writer can be reached at ma6749429@gmail.com