On the authority of `Umar (ra) who said:
While we were one day sitting with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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 (ﷺ) rested his knees against the knees
of the Prophet (ﷺ) and placed his palms over his thighs, and said: "O
Muhammad! Inform me about Islam." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied:
"Islam is that you should testify that there is no deity worthy of
worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger (ﷺ), 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)." He said: "You have spoken the truth."
We were astonished at his thus questioning him (ﷺ) and then telling him
that he was right, but he went on to say, "Inform me about Iman
(faith)." He (the Prophet) 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 the truth."
Then he (the man) said, "Inform me about Ihsan." He (the Prophet)
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 Prophet) said, "About that
the one questioned knows no more than the questioner." So he said,
"Well, inform me about its signs." He said, "They are that the
slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and 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 Prophet) 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 )
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