Certitude in Islam

 In Islam, these are high stations and are intended to be coveted for their own sake.  The method of achieving this has been described to increase the worship of Almighty Allah as much as possible, as worship means to debase and humiliate oneself before Almighty Allah and it is nothing but to obey Almighty Allah.  When one debases oneself before Almighty Allah and is obedient in beliefs and acts, then it is to be hoped that in lieu of it, Almighty Allah will grant that person the certitude, which ensures that that person will not do anything against the will of Allah.  Thus, everyone is being ordered:

 

And worship your Lord till you attain to the station of certainty of faith (which goes with your glory, i.e., perfect cognizance of divinity or the moment of far-nearness to your Lord).  Surah Hijr (15:99)

 

Worship Allah so that you gain the certitude which will make sure that you perform deeds that are as per the command and will of Almighty Allah and worship is performed with certitude which the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has ordered in the following rigorously-authenticated Hadith:

 

Translation: Worship Allah as if you see Him.

 

In the Shariah, this is called Ihsaan, as mentioned in Mishkaat Ul Masabeeh, Kitab Ul Imaan, on the authority of Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

 

Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) says:  Once, we were present before the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  A person wearing extremely white clothes came to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and sat before Him parallel-legged with his thighs touching the blessed thighs of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and asked:  What is Islam?

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) answered:  Testifying to La Ilaha Illallah Muhammad Ur Rasoolullah, offering Salaat, giving Zakaat and if one has the means to perform Hajj. 

 

He rejoined:  You have said the truth.

 

He next asked:  What is faith (Iman)?

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Believing in Allah, His angels, His books, His Prophets and believing that whatever happens, good or bad, is from Allah.

 

The questioner rejoined:  You have said the truth.

 

He then asked:  What is Ihsaan?

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) answered:

 

Translation: Worship Allah as if you see Him, because if you aren’t seeing Him, then He is seeing you.

 

When that person went away, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) turned to me and asked:  Do you know who that was?

 

I said:  Allah and His Prophet know best.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  That was Jibreel (May peace be upon him).  He had to come to teach your religion to you.