What are the ranks of the Islamic religion, what are the states of each rank, what is the difference between Islam, Iman (faith), and Ihsan (excellence), and what is the station of those who excel in Ihsan?

The Islamic religion has three ranks: Islam, Iman (faith), and Ihsan (excellence).

Islam: Linguistically: Submission and surrender. Islamically: When mentioned alone: It encompasses the entire religion, its fundamentals and branches. It is the surrender to Allah through monotheism, obedience to Him, and disassociation from polytheism and its people. When coupled with Iman: It refers to outward actions and sayings, as in the Almighty's saying: ﴿The Bedouins say, "We have believed." Say, "You have not believed; but say, 'We have submitted,' for faith has not yet entered your hearts."﴾

Iman (Faith): Linguistically: Affirmation that entails acceptance and submission. Islamically: When mentioned alone: It encompasses the entire religion, and it is "affirmation by the heart, utterance by the tongue, and action by the limbs; it increases with obedience and decreases with disobedience." When coupled with Islam: It is interpreted as inner beliefs, as in the Hadith of Gabriel, and the funeral supplication: "O Allah, whom You keep alive among us, keep him alive upon Islam, and whom You cause to die among us, cause him to die upon Iman."

The Difference Between Islam and Iman: If each is mentioned separately, there is no difference between them, and each encompasses the entire religion. However, if they are mentioned together, Islam pertains to outward matters performed by the limbs, and Iman to inner, heartfelt matters, as indicated by the Hadith of Gabriel.

Ihsan (Excellence): Linguistically: Perfection, mastery, and sincerity in work. Islamically: When mentioned alone: It encompasses the entire religion. When coupled with Islam and Iman: It means perfecting both the outward and the inward. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, explained it by saying: "Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you do not see Him, He surely sees you."

The Station of the Muhsinin (Those who achieve Ihsan) in Ihsan: The First Station (The Station of Witnessing): To worship Allah as if you see Him, where the unseen becomes like the seen. This necessitates awe, fear, reverence, and magnification. The Second Station (The Station of Sincerity and Mindfulness): To act while being mindful that Allah observes you and is aware of you. This prevents turning to anyone other than Allah and facilitates reaching the first station.