اسلام، ایمان اور احسان (حدیثِ جبرائیل)

It is narrated from Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: One day we Companions were in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) when suddenly a man appeared before us whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black; no trace of travel could be seen on him (as though he were a traveller who had come from afar), and none of us recognised the newcomer (that is, he was not from that area).

The man came up to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), placed his knees against the Prophet's knees and put his hands on the Prophet's thighs, and said: "O Muhammad (peace be upon him)! Tell me, what is Islam?" The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Islam is that you bear witness that none is worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah, that you establish the prayer, pay the zakat, fast in Ramadan, and, if you have the means to travel to the House of Allah, perform the Hajj."

Hearing this answer, the man said: "You have spoken the truth." Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We were astonished that he both questioned him and then confirmed his answer (as though he already knew these matters).

Then the man said: "O Muhammad (peace be upon him)! Now tell me about faith (iman) — what is faith?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Faith is that you believe from the heart in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers and the Last Day, and that you have certainty that whatever good or ill befalls is all according to the divine decree." Hearing this answer, he said: "You have spoken the truth."

Then the man said: "O Muhammad (peace be upon him)! Now tell me about excellence (ihsan) — what is ihsan?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Ihsan is that you worship Allah as though you see Him, and if you do not (see Him), then (keep in mind) that He surely sees you."

Then the man said: "Tell me about the Hour (when it will come)." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The one asked about it knows no more than the one asking." Then he said: "Then tell me some of its signs." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress; that is, you will see that those who were barefoot and unclothed, empty-handed herders of goats, will build tall buildings and vie with one another in doing so."

Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: After that the man left, and some time later the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked me: "O Umar! Do you know who that questioner was?" I said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "That was Gabriel (peace be upon him), who came to this gathering of yours to teach you people your religion."