DEFINITION OF ISLAM: Rahma- dealing with people with more than just justice. 

REFERENCE: SURAH AL-ISRA/BANI-ISRAEL- THE NIGHT JOURNEY

When you do ihsan, you do it for yourself. We have the freedom of choice to choose our actions but we do not choose the consequences of our actions. 

Physical benefits of doing good to others: 

• Causes longevity
• Reduction of early death
• Reduced incidence of brain decline

Mental and emotional benefits of doing good to others:

• Helper’s high: Engaging in good deeds results in the brain releasing feel-good chemicals that are associated with happiness.
• Brain chemicals are also released: oxytocin, dopamine, endorphins
• Tend and mend response- we want to approach people and build relationships. 
• Helps keep our problems in perspective. Having a larger purpose helps direct your attention and keep it in perspective.
• Starts a virtuous cycle that cements relationships and strengthens families, communities. 
• A kindness bank is created in our brains. Every time we think about those good actions we feel good. 
• You win hearts when you do good deeds.
• Must do it consistently in order to gain its benefits.

However, you must do the deed with the correct intention or it will not benefit you. Do it out of the goodness of your heart rather than to gain something in return. 

Certain etiquettes whilst doing ihsan: 

• Underestimate and undervalue the good act. 
• Do not make a person feel obligated towards you for helping them out.
• Conceal the good deed from the rest of society.
• Only reveal the good deed if it will encourage others to partake of the deed too.
• Hastening the completion of the good deed. Don’t make people wait for your help once you have offered it. 
• Forget about the deed once it is completed.

Narration of Imam Ali (AS): To be in this world is not good except for two types of people:

1. Someone who is doing more good deeds and ihsan
2. Someone who has done bad deeds and is trying to compensate by doing tawba. 

LINKS: 

• Surah Al-Isra- The Night Journey- [17:7]
• Tuhaf al Uqul no. 403

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TOPIC OF THE YEAR: The pursuit and practice of Ihsan

The primary purpose of these gatherings is to give our condolences to the household of the beloved Holy Prophet of Islam.  

BLESSINGS OF THESE MAJLIS:

• It revives not only our deen but us too.

• It helps us realign what really matters.

• Commemorating the tragedy has kept our religion alive. 
• It is only the Grace of God and this huge sacrifice by the most beloved of his creatures that has kept this deen alive till today. 
• It allows us to get in touch with ourselves and remind ourselves of where we need help and transformation in our life. 

An important part of these days is to pass on the message of Kerbala to others.

Hadith by Imam Reza (AS): “By learning our knowledge and teaching it to people. If people knew the merits of our knowledge they would follow us.” 

Imam Hussain’s (AS) message: Living with the concept of ihsan- kindness, excellence, and virtue. 

COVID- Challenges and opportunities:

• Safety and protection
• Intention and action
• Motivation to attend

The Holy Family as inspiration

Fatima Zahra (SA): 

• “Best of people on the earth in origin, dignity and honour.”
• Pillar of Islam
• An axis of intercession
• Her children- Hasan, Hussain, Mohsin come from the same root word- h-s-n.
• Hasan: one who is virtuous and does good. 
• Hussain: derivative of Hasan. 

Basic foundations of morality and righteousness

• Adl: Give people their due which has been asked of them. Imam Ali (AS) said that, “Adl is the foundation on which the world rests.”
• Ihsan is going above and beyond justice and acting with nobility and kindness. Imam Ali (AS) says, “When you are focused on doing more than is required, that’s how people fall in love with you.” 

‘Hasana’ is a key root word of the Quran. 

• It appears 194 times in the Quran.
• It means inner beauty, living a life of virtue. 
• Allah is the ultimate ‘mohsin’- one who does ihsan. 
• When we do things that are hurtful to ourselves or others, He deals with us only that we deserve. But when we do good, he multiplies it. 

LINKS:

• Fara'edoh-Samtayn vol.2 p.68

• Beharul-Anwar, vol.43 pp.4-18

• Beharul-Anwar, vol.8 p.51

• Surah Al-Nahl [16:90]

• Surah Qassas [28:77]

• Surah An-Najm [53:31]

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