Islam, Iman, Ihsan, Qadar
Also on the authority of 'Umar, radiyallahu 'anhu, who said:
"While we were one day sitting with the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu
'alayhi wasallam, there appeared before us a man dressed in extremely
white clothes and with very black hair. No traces of journeying were
visible on him, and none of us knew him.
He sat down close by the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, rested
his knee against his thighs, and said, O Muhammad! Inform me about
Islam." Said the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, "Islam
is that you should testify that there is no deity save Allah and that
Muhammad is His Messenger, that you should perform salah (ritual
prayer), pay the zakah, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj
(pilgrimage) to the House (the Ka'bah at Makkah), if you can find a way
to it (or find the means for making the journey to it)." Said he (the
man), "You have spoken truly."
We were astonished at his thus questioning him and telling him that he
was right, but he went on to say, "Inform me about iman (faith)." He
(the Messenger of Allah) answered, "It is that you believe in Allah and
His angels and His Books and His Messengers and in the Last Day, and in
fate (qadar), both in its good and in its evil aspects." He said, "You
have spoken truly."
Then he (the man) said, "Inform me about Ihsan." He (the Messenger of
Allah) answered, " It is that you should serve Allah as though you could
see Him, for though you cannot see Him yet He sees you." He said,
"Inform me about the Hour." He (the Messenger of Allah) said, "About
that the one questioned knows no more than the questioner." So he said,
"Well, inform me about the signs thereof (i.e. of its coming)." Said he,
"They are that the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress, that you
will see the barefooted ones, the naked, the destitute, the herdsmen of
the sheep (competing with each other) in raising lofty buildings."
Thereupon the man went off.
I waited a while, and then he (the Messenger of Allah) said, "O 'Umar,
do you know who that questioner was?" I replied, "Allah and His
Messenger know better." He said, "That was Jibril. He came to teach you
your religion.""
[Muslim]
[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]
Hadith 2
Also on the authority of 'Umar, radiyallahu 'anhu, who said:
"While we were one day sitting with the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu
'alayhi wasallam, there appeared before us a man dressed in extremely
white clothes and with very black hair. No traces of journeying were
visible on him, and none of us knew him.
He sat down close by the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, rested
his knee against his thighs, and said, O Muhammad! Inform me about
Islam." Said the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, "Islam
is that you should testify that there is no deity save Allah and that
Muhammad is His Messenger, that you should perform salah (ritual
prayer), pay the zakah, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj
(pilgrimage) to the House (the Ka'bah at Makkah), if you can find a way
to it (or find the means for making the journey to it)." Said he (the
man), "You have spoken truly."
We were astonished at his thus questioning him and telling him that he
was right, but he went on to say, "Inform me about iman (faith)." He
(the Messenger of Allah) answered, "It is that you believe in Allah and
His angels and His Books and His Messengers and in the Last Day, and in
fate (qadar), both in its good and in its evil aspects." He said, "You
have spoken truly."
Then he (the man) said, "Inform me about Ihsan." He (the Messenger of
Allah) answered, " It is that you should serve Allah as though you could
see Him, for though you cannot see Him yet He sees you." He said,
"Inform me about the Hour." He (the Messenger of Allah) said, "About
that the one questioned knows no more than the questioner." So he said,
"Well, inform me about the signs thereof (i.e. of its coming)." Said he,
"They are that the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress, that you
will see the barefooted ones, the naked, the destitute, the herdsmen of
the sheep (competing with each other) in raising lofty buildings."
Thereupon the man went off.
I waited a while, and then he (the Messenger of Allah) said, "O 'Umar,
do you know who that questioner was?" I replied, "Allah and His
Messenger know better." He said, "That was Jibril. He came to teach you
your religion.""
[Muslim]
[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]
Hadith 2