Bhakti and its Islamic Equivalents: Iman, Ihsan, and Tawakkul
Bhakti is a concept that is found in various religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. It means “devotion, love, or attachment” to a personal or representational god, or to a spiritual principle. In Islam, there is no exact equivalent of bhakti, but some aspects of bhakti can be seen in the concepts of iman (faith), ihsan (excellence), and tawakkul (reliance on God).
Iman (Faith)
Iman is the belief in the six articles of faith in Islam: God, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Day of Judgment, and the divine decree. Iman is the foundation of Islam and the source of all actions. It is not only a matter of verbal affirmation, but also a matter of conviction, sincerity, and submission to God. Iman can be increased by doing good deeds and avoiding sins, by remembering God and reciting His names, by studying the Quran and the Sunnah, and by seeking knowledge and wisdom. Iman can also be decreased by committing major sins, by neglecting the obligations of Islam, by following one’s desires and whims, and by being heedless of God and His signs.
Iman is similar to bhakti in that it involves love and devotion to God, as well as trust and reliance on Him. However, iman is also different from bhakti in that it is based on rational evidence and logical arguments, not on emotional feelings or mystical experiences. Iman also requires obedience and submission to God’s commands and prohibitions, not just personal expression or preference.
Some Quran verses and hadiths that illustrate iman are:
لَّیۡسَ ٱلۡبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمۡ قِبَلَ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقِ وَٱلۡمَغۡرِبِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلۡبِرَّ مَنۡ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡیَوۡمِ ٱلۡـَٔاخِرِ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰۤىِٕكَةِ وَٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلنَّبِیِّـۧنَ وَءَاتَى ٱلۡمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِۦ ذَوِی ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡیَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلۡمَسَـٰكِینَ وَٱبۡنَ ٱلسَّبِیلِ وَٱلسَّاۤىِٕلِینَ وَفِی ٱلرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَى ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱلۡمُوفُونَ بِعَهۡدِهِمۡ إِذَا عَـٰهَدُوا۟ۖ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِینَ فِی ٱلۡبَأۡسَاۤءِ وَٱلضَّرَّاۤءِ وَحِینَ ٱلۡبَأۡسِۗ أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ ٱلَّذِینَ صَدَقُوا۟ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُتَّقُونَ
Basic virtue is not just to turn faces to the East and the West, but true righteousness is that one must believe in Allah and the Last Day and the angels and the Book and the Prophets; and out of love for Allah, to give treasured wealth to relatives and to the orphans and the needy and the traveller, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free; and to keep the prayer established and to pay the charity; and those who fulfil their obligations when they make an agreement; and the patient during times of calamity, in hardships and during holy war; it is they who have proved true to their word; it is they who are the pious. (Quran 2:177)
ءَامَنَ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِمَاۤ أُنزِلَ إِلَیۡهِ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَۚ كُلٌّ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَمَلَـٰۤىِٕكَتِهِۦ وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَیۡنَ أَحَدࣲ مِّن رُّسُلِهِۦۚ وَقَالُوا۟ سَمِعۡنَا وَأَطَعۡنَاۖ غُفۡرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَیۡكَ ٱلۡمَصِیرُ
The Noble Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him by his Lord, and so do the believers; all have accepted faith in Allah and His angels and His Books and His Noble Messengers; saying, “We do not make any distinction, in believing, between any of His Noble Messengers”; and they said, “We hear, and we obey; Your forgiveness be granted, O our Lord, and towards You is our return.” (Quran 2:285)
مَن كَفَرَ بِٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ إِیمَـٰنِهِۦۤ إِلَّا مَنۡ أُكۡرِهَ وَقَلۡبُهُۥ مُطۡمَىِٕنُّۢ بِٱلۡإِیمَـٰنِ وَلَـٰكِن مَّن شَرَحَ بِٱلۡكُفۡرِ صَدۡرࣰا فَعَلَیۡهِمۡ غَضَبࣱ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ عَظِیمࣱ
The one who disbelieves in Allah after accepting faith – except him who is forced to and whose heart is still firmly upon faith – but whoever is wholeheartedly a disbeliever, upon them is the wrath of Allah; and for them is a great punishment. (Quran 16:106)
Sahih al-Bukhari 9. It is narrated by Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Faith (Belief) consists of more than sixty branches (i.e. parts). And Haya (This term “Haya” covers a large number of concepts which are to be taken together; amongst them are self respect, modesty, bashfulness, and scruple, etc.) is a part of faith.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 13. It is reported by Anas: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself.”
Ihsan (Excellence)
Ihsan is the highest level of worship in Islam. It means “to worship God as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, then He sees you.” Ihsan is the perfection of iman and islam (submission). It is the state of being aware of God’s presence and His watchfulness at all times, and acting accordingly. Ihsan is achieved by following the example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who was the best model of ihsan. Ihsan also involves beautifying one’s worship and deeds with sincerity, humility, patience, gratitude, generosity, kindness, justice, and mercy.
Ihsan is similar to bhakti in that it involves a direct and intimate relationship with God, as well as a constant remembrance of Him. However, ihsan is also different from bhakti in that it is not limited to worship or devotion, but encompasses all aspects of life. Ihsan also requires excellence and perfection in one’s actions, not just sincerity or emotion.
Some Quran verses and hadiths that illustrate ihsan are:
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ یَأۡمُرُ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ وَٱلۡإِحۡسَـٰنِ وَإِیتَاۤىِٕ ذِی ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَیَنۡهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلۡفَحۡشَاۤءِ وَٱلۡمُنكَرِ وَٱلۡبَغۡیِۚ یَعِظُكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Indeed Allah decrees the commands of justice and kindness, and of giving to relatives, and forbids from the shameful and evil and rebellion; He advises you so that you may pay heed.(Quran 16:90)
وَمَاۤ أُمِرُوۤا۟ إِلَّا لِیَعۡبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصِینَ لَهُ ٱلدِّینَ حُنَفَاۤءَ وَیُقِیمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَیُؤۡتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَۚ وَذَ ٰلِكَ دِینُ ٱلۡقَیِّمَةِ
And they were ordered only to worship Allah, believing purely in Him – devoted solely (to Him), and to establish the prayer and to pay the obligatory charity – and this is the straight religion. (Quran 98:5)
وَٱسۡتَعِینُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِیرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلۡخَـٰشِعِینَ
And seek help in patience and prayer; and truly it is hard except for those who prostrate before Me with sincerity. (Quran 2:45)
وَٱعۡبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلَا تُشۡرِكُوا۟ بِهِۦ شَیۡـࣰٔاۖ وَبِٱلۡوَ ٰلِدَیۡنِ إِحۡسَـٰنࣰا وَبِذِی ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡیَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلۡمَسَـٰكِینِ وَٱلۡجَارِ ذِی ٱلۡقُرۡبَىٰ وَٱلۡجَارِ ٱلۡجُنُبِ وَٱلصَّاحِبِ بِٱلۡجَنۢبِ وَٱبۡنِ ٱلسَّبِیلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتۡ أَیۡمَـٰنُكُمۡۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا یُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخۡتَالࣰا فَخُورًا
And worship Allah and do not ascribe any partner to Him, and be good to parents, and to relatives, and orphans, and the needy, and the related neighbour and the unrelated neighbour, and the close companion and the traveller; and your bondwomen; indeed Allah does not like any boastful, proud person. – (Quran 4:36)
- Sahih al-Bukhari 50. It is narrated by Abu Huraira: One day while the Prophet (ﷺ) was sitting in the company of some people, (The angel) Gabriel came and asked, “What is faith?” Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) replied, ‘Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, (the) meeting with Him, His Apostles, and to believe in Resurrection.’ Then he further asked, “What is Islam?” Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) replied, “To worship Allah Alone and none else, to offer prayers perfectly to pay the compulsory charity (Zakat) and to observe fasts during the month of Ramadan.” Then he further asked, “What is Ihsan (perfection)?” Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) replied, “To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion then you must consider that He is looking at you.”
Tawakkul (Reliance on God)
Tawakkul is the reliance on God for all one’s affairs. It means “to put one’s trust in God after taking the necessary means.” Tawakkul is a manifestation of iman and ihsan. It is the recognition of God’s power and wisdom, and the acceptance of His decree and will. Tawakkul is achieved by seeking God’s guidance and help in all matters, by being content with His provision and plan, by being patient with His trials and tests, and by being hopeful for His mercy and reward.
Tawakkul is similar to bhakti in that it involves surrendering oneself to God and depending on Him alone. However, tawakkul is also different from bhakti in that it does not imply passivity or fatalism, but rather activity and responsibility. Tawakkul also requires taking the appropriate means and measures to achieve one’s goals, not just relying on miracles or wishes.
Some Quran verses and hadiths that illustrate tawakkul are:
وَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱلۡحَیِّ ٱلَّذِی لَا یَمُوتُ وَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِهِۦۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِهِۦ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِۦ خَبِیرًا
And trust the Living One Who will never die, and praising Him proclaim His Purity; and He is Sufficient upon the sins of His bondmen, All Aware. (Quran 25:58)
وَیَرۡزُقۡهُ مِنۡ حَیۡثُ لَا یَحۡتَسِبُۚ وَمَن یَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسۡبُهُۥۤۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَـٰلِغُ أَمۡرِهِۦۚ قَدۡ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَیۡءࣲ قَدۡرࣰا
And will provide him sustenance from a place he had never expected; and whoever relies on Allah – then Allah is Sufficient for him; indeed Allah will accomplish His command; indeed Allah has set a proper measure for all things. (Quran 65:3)
فَإِذَا عَزَمۡتَ فَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ یُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَوَكِّلِینَ
So when you have decided, then rely upon Allah . Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]. (Quran 3:159)
Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2344. It is narrated by 'Umar bin Al-Khattab that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: “If you were to rely upon Allah with the required reliance, then He would provide for you just as a bird is provided for, it goes out in the morning empty, and returns full.”
Sahih Muslim 2664. It is reported by Abu Huraira that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “A strong believer is better and is more lovable to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone, (but) cherish that which gives you benefit (in the Hereafter) and seek help from Allah and do not lose heart, and if anything (in the form of trouble) comes to you, don’t say: If I had not done that, it would not have happened so and so, but say: Allah did that what He had ordained to do and your ‘if’ opens the (gate) for the Satan.”