■ What’s the Difference Between Outer Islam and Inner Ihsan? Or What’s the difference between the outer Shari’ah and the inner Haqiqat? And where do we stand in all this spiritual traffic?
So, what’s the Zahir (Outer) Path?
This is the Islam everyone sees — the salah, the fasting, the zakah, the halal biryani, and the haram Instagram scrolling (👀). It’s the external discipline that gives your soul a beautiful frame. Think of it like a garden wall — protecting what’s inside.
It’s made up of rules, ethics, laws.
This is the Shari’ah — and it’s 100% necessary.
Without it… It is Chaos.
Too much of it without spirit… it is Dryness.
It’s like a lantern. But lanterns need oil.
🌸 Now enter… the Batin (Inner) Path.
This is where the Sufis take a deep breath and speaks:
“Ya Allah, what do You want from my heart?”
This inner path is called Ihsan — the soul’s beautification. It’s not just about doing good; it’s about being good, from the inside out.
You don’t just look humble.
You are humble, even when no one is watching.
You don’t just avoid major sins.
You avoid secret arrogance, judgment, envy, pride — the ones that quietly grow like weeds in the garden of your heart.
That’s the difference. One is the body of the rose. The other is its fragrance.
Shari’ah trains your actions. Ihsan trains your soul.
One is about not stealing — the other is about not even wishing for what’s not yours.
One is about lowering your gaze — the other is about cleaning your heart from attachment.
And here’s the intresting part:
The Shari’ah is what you do.
The Ihsan is what you become.
The Qur’an spills the tea — We’re not all the same.
Okay, listen to this divine mic-drop moment from the Qur’an:
ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا الْكِتَابَ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا…
Then We gave the Book as inheritance to those We chose from Our servants…
And then what?
Allah ﷻ divides us into 3 spiritual squads:
1️⃣ The Self-Zone – “ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ”
The ones who wrong themselves.
These are our lovely folks who, despite being Muslim, still struggle big-time. They get lazy with prayers, slip into talking, delay repentance, and are driven more by their nafsani (ego-beast) urges than divine light.
They want Jannah but… keep tripping on Netflix sins and inner greed. 🫣
We love them. They’re trying. But they haven’t answered the call of their ruh (spirit) yet. They’re still ruled by the bahimi (animal side) of the soul.
2️⃣ The Middle Grounders – “مُقْتَصِدٌ”
The balanced ones.
These are your Friday Muslims, Ramadan warriors, Eid experts — sincere but still figuring it out. They’re trying to balance dunya and deen.
Some days they wake up for Tahajjud. Other days they Snooze button wins.
But their hearts are open. They want Allah ﷻ. They’re just learning to hold the light longer.
They taste both sweetness and struggle. They know what’s out there, but they’re slowly falling in love with what’s inside.
3️⃣ The Sprinters of Good – “سَابِقٌ بِالْخَيْرَاتِ”
The advanced souls. The ones racing in goodness.
These are the people who, when you sit with them, your heart automatically softens. They glow. They’re not preaching — they are the message.
They’ve surrendered. Their hearts are gardens of tawakkul (trust), sabr (patience), and love. They live simply, but their souls are oceans.
They’re not here to be seen.
They’re here to see — Allah ﷻ in every leaf, tear, and smile.
This group, they are rare. But they exist in every age. Sometimes it’s the old lady next door. Sometimes it’s the silent stranger in the masjid.
But what makes the difference?
The Sufis say: It all depends on which force dominates inside you.
Inside every human being, there’s a bahimi or Nasooti force (like the animal soul — craving, eating, sleeping, ego)… and a malaki or Malakooti force (angelic — loving, worshiping, giving, glowing).
If the bahimi side wins, you slip into darkness.
If the malaki side wins, you rise toward Light.
That’s why the Sufis do all this tazkiyah (soul-cleansing) and mujahadah (inner struggle). It’s like a spiritual gym. They’re trying to give the angel inside a chance to shine.
So if you’re wondering where you stand… don’t panic.
This path is not a competition. It’s a calling.
Some of us start in group 1, fall to group 2, and dream of group 3. Some sprint early. Some bloom late. Some fall, cry, repent, rise — fall again, cry deeper, rise higher.
That’s life.
And that’s love — divine love.
So wherever you are, say from your heart:
“Ya Allah, don’t let me stay where I am. Pull me closer. Light up my inside. And make me one of those who run toward You, laughing, crying, glowing.”
Because one day, this outer shell will return to dust.
But that inner light?
It’s going home.
اللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلَىٰ اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
May Allah ﷻ make us from the people of Ihsan — those whose hearts become mirrors to His Light. آمين يا رب العالمين
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 