MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA — Ikhwan Ahada, Chairperson of the Provincial Board of Muhammadiyah (PWM) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), has called on Muslims to make the values of ihsan (excellence) and itqan (precision and mastery) the foundation of professionalism and the key to restoring the greatness of Islamic civilization.
He delivered the message during his Friday sermon at the Islamic Center Mosque of Ahmad Dahlan University (UAD) on Friday (26/6).
According to Ikhwan, taqwa (God-consciousness) should not be understood merely as fulfilling religious obligations. Rather, it must be manifested through sincere efforts to draw closer to Allah while avoiding everything He has prohibited.
He cited Ibrahim Assawi’s explanation in Minhaj Assawi, which outlines four indicators of taqwa based on the words of Sayyidina Ali ibn Abi Talib.
“Taqwa is fearing Allah, the Almighty; practicing the revealed guidance; preparing provisions for the Hereafter; and being content (qana’ah) with worldly life,” he said.
These four characteristics, Ikhwan explained, describe a believer who consistently places Allah’s guidance above all else. Fear of Allah encourages a person to carefully guard every word and action so that they remain in accordance with the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
“A person of taqwa also possesses a transcendent outlook. When blessed, they are grateful; when tested with hardship, they remain patient. Everything is entrusted back to Allah, the Exalted,” he explained.
Ihsan: Going Beyond Expectations
Ikhwan emphasized that genuine taqwa should naturally produce the character of ihsan in everyday life. He quoted Allah’s words in Surah Al-Qasas (28:77):
وَابْتَغِ فِيمَا آتَاكَ اللَّهُ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ وَلَا تَنْسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَأَحْسِنْ كَمَا أَحْسَنَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْكَ
“Seek, through what Allah has granted you, the home of the Hereafter, but do not neglect your share of this world. And do good as Allah has done good to you.” (QS. Al-Qashash [28]: 77)
According to him, ihsan is often translated simply as “doing good,” but its true meaning is much broader. It signifies performing every task beyond the ordinary standard or expectation.
“Allah bestows blessings upon us far beyond what we deserve or expect. Therefore, as His servants, we are also expected to embody ihsan in everything we do,” he said.
In addition to ihsan, the Qur’an teaches the principle of itqan. That is performing work with diligence, precision, and excellence. Ikhwan cited Surah An-Naml (27:88):
صُنْعَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي أَتْقَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ ۚ إِنَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَفْعَلُونَ
“Such is the workmanship of Allah, who has perfected everything. Indeed, He is All-Aware of what you do.” (QS. An-Naml [27]: 88)
He explained that the perfection of Allah’s creation serves as an example for humanity to perform every responsibility optimally, effectively, and with full accountability.
This principle, he added, is reinforced by the Prophet Muhammad’s saying recorded by Imam Muslim:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الْإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ
“Indeed, Allah has prescribed ihsan in everything.” (Sahih Muslim, No. 1955)
The hadith demonstrates that ihsan is not limited to acts of worship but extends to every aspect of life, including social relationships, professional work, and service to society.
Ikhwan also cited another narration recorded by Al-Bayhaqi:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يُحِبُّ إِذَا عَمِلَ أَحَدُكُمْ عَمَلًا أَنْ يُتْقِنَهُ
“Indeed, Allah loves that when one of you performs a task, he performs it with itqan (excellence and perfection).” (HR. Al-Baihaqi).
According to him, itqan means completing work effectively, efficiently, carefully, and to the highest possible standard. Meanwhile, ihsan reflects the spirit of consistently delivering more than what is expected.
The combination of these two values, he said, forms the foundation of true Muslim professionalism. “Ihsan and itqan are the fundamental Islamic principles for carrying out every profession. Whatever our occupation may be, if it is performed with these values, it will produce professionalism that supports success in this world while serving as provision for the Hereafter,” he said.
Practical Steps Toward Professional Excellence
Toward the end of his sermon, Ikhwan outlined several practical ways to implement ihsan and itqan in daily life:
- Every task should be carefully planned, properly executed, and thoroughly evaluated.
- Every responsibility should be completed to the end rather than abandoned halfway.
- Individuals should remain focused on established goals to achieve optimal results.
- Completed work should be carefully reviewed before being finalized to ensure the highest quality.
According to Ikhwan, this spirit of professionalism was one of the key factors that once enabled Muslims to lead world civilization. Therefore, if Muslims today have yet to reclaim that leadership role, he argued, sincere self-evaluation and continuous improvement are indispensable.
“If Muslims today are no longer in a position to shape the course of human civilization, then we must first evaluate ourselves. Professionalism must be cultivated with seriousness so that the Muslim community can once again become a pioneer of civilization,” he concluded.
