Arabic root

ح-س-ن

3 words from this root family

B1noun

إِحْسَانٌ

iḥsān

excellence / doing beautiful deeds

Example

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ

inna Allāha yaʾmuru bil-ʿadli wal-iḥsān

Indeed, Allah commands justice and iḥsān (excellence) (16:90)

Root: ح-س-ن Quranic

Grammar

Masculine verbal noun (maṣdar) of أَحْسَنَ (Form IV). Related: حُسْنٌ (beauty/goodness), حَسَنَةٌ (good deed), مُحْسِنٌ (one who does iḥsān), أَحْسَنُ (best/most beautiful).

Culture

Iḥsān is the highest level of faith, defined by the Prophet ﷺ as 'worshipping God as though you see Him, and if you cannot see Him, then knowing He sees you.'

A2noun

حَسَنَةٌ

ḥasanah

good deed / good thing / blessing

Example

مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا

man jāʾa bil-ḥasanati falahū ʿashru amthālihā

Whoever comes with a good deed will have ten times the like thereof (6:160)

Root: ح-س-ن Quranic

Grammar

Feminine noun (used as a noun from the adjective حَسَنٌ). Plural: حَسَنَاتٌ (ḥasanāt). Opposite: سَيِّئَةٌ (bad deed).

Culture

The divine multiplication of good deeds (10x to 700x or more) is a profound Quranic concept that motivates righteous action.

A2noun

مُحْسِنٌ

muḥsin

doer of good / one who acts with excellence

Example

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

inna Allāha yuḥibbu al-muḥsinīn

Indeed, Allah loves the doers of good (2:195)

Root: ح-س-ن Quranic

Grammar

Active participle of أَحْسَنَ (Form IV, to do good/act with excellence). Plural: مُحْسِنُونَ. Related to إِحْسَانٌ (q116, excellence). The highest level of faith.

Culture

Iḥsān is defined by the Prophet ﷺ as 'worshipping God as if you see Him, for if you don't see Him, He sees you.' The muḥsin embodies this awareness.