This is a lexicographic entry that gathers the technical meaning of this term in Shahrur across his various books and connects its multiple uses.
This entry belongs to the Shahrur lexicon. For thematic reading, one may refer to Shahrur’s major themes and shared concepts.
Meaning in Shahrur
Ihsan is the perfecting of practical and ethical conduct in a manner that rises with knowledge and time. It is therefore not understood as an abstract general virtue, but as a living criterion within religion that guides righteous action and makes it capable of development without losing its value. In this usage, it is part of the structure of religious commitment, not an emotional quality nor a ritual performance detached from life.
Distinctions
- It differs from righteous action in that it describes a level of mastery and elevation in action, not merely the occurrence of an action consistent with goodness.
- It also differs from the pillars of Islam and ritual commitment; its scope is ethical and practical, extending into life, not rites confined to outward belonging.
Passages from his books
- Islam and Faith: righteous action here is not merely a general virtue, but a criterion that develops with the development of time and knowledge. It is therefore understood as a living ethical component within the religious system, not as a rigid value fixed in formulation
What is adjacent to it and what differs from it
- righteous action
- the three pillars of Islam
- ihsan encompasses action and life
- general Islam and the value covenant constitute Shahrur’s definition of religion
- righteous action is part of Islam
- a Muslim includes every believer in God and the Last Day
- the Islamic covenant in Shahrur is based on value-based pillars, not on ritual belonging