Without the knowledge of احکامِ الہٰی there can be no proper عمل, and without عمل, knowledge is of no benefit. Likewise, both علم and عمل remain incomplete without Ihsān. Until there is sincere صدقِ توجہ, no true benefit can be attained from عمل, and until beneficial عمل is manifested, the purpose of knowledge cannot be fulfilled.
For this reason, the relationship of Ihsān with علم and عمل is like the relationship of the soul with the body.
Thus, امام مالک رحمتہ اللہ علیہ said:
“مَنْ تَصوَّفَ وَلَمْ يَتَفَقَّهْ فَقَدْ تَزَنْدَقَ، وَمَنْ تَفَقَّهْ وَلَمْ يَتَصَوَّفْ فَقَدْ تَفَسَّقَ، وَمَنْ جَمَعَ بَيْنَهُمَا فَقَدْ تَحَقَّقَ”
Meaning: Whoever adopted Tasawwuf without acquiring proper knowledge of دین became a زندیق; and whoever acquired the knowledge of دین but did not adopt Tasawwuf became a فاسق; while the one who combined both, indeed attained true realization and تحقیق.