One day, while we were at the messenger of Allah a
man approached us of intensely white clothes and intensely black hair with no visible
signs of travelling and none of us knew him. He sat towards the prophet (sallallahu aleihi wasallam - Peace be upon him) and rested
his knees towards his (the prophet's) knees and placed his palms on his (the prophet's)
thighs and he said:
"O Muhammad, inform me about Islam".
The messenger of Allah said: "Islam is to testify that there is no Ilah (God)
but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah (sallallahu aleihi wasallam - Peace be
upon him), to establish the prayers, to give the zakat, to fast Ramadan, and to make the
pilgrimage to the House (the Kaaba in Mecca) if you are able to do so." He
said:"Truthful (you are)", so we were puzzled at his asking him then affirming
him.
He said: "So, inform me about Iman
(faith)." He (the prophet)
said:"To believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day;
and to believe in divine destiny, providential (good)
and direful (bad)." He said:"Truthful (you are)".
He said: " So, inform me about
Virtue (Ihsan - perfection of goodness)" He (the
prophet) said: "To worship Allah as though you are seeing Him - for if you do not see
Him, He sees you".
He said: "So, inform me about the Hour". He
(the prophet) said: "The questioned (one) knows no more about it than the
questioner." He said: "So, inform me about its signs." He (the prophet)
said: "That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and that you will see the
barefooted, naked, destitute herdsman competing in building (lofty buildings)." Then
he set off and I stayed for a while. Then he (the prophet) said: "O Omar, do you know
who the questioner was?" I said: "Allah and His messenger know best". He
said: "It is Jibreel come to you to teach you your religion."
narrated by Muslim
