Inform me about Islam…
Inform me about Islam…
Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (may God be pleased with him), a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), said: “One day we were sitting in the company of God's Apostle (peace and blessings be upon him) when there appeared before us a man dressed in pure white clothes, his hair extraordinarily black. There were no signs of travel on him. None amongst us recognized him. At last, he sat with the Apostle (peace and blessings be upon him). He knelt before him placed his palms on his thighs and sai,: “Muhammad, inform me about Islam.”
The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Islam implies that you testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, and you establish prayer, pay Zakat, observe the fast of Ramadan, and perform pilgrimage to the (House) if you are solvent enough (to bear the expense of) the journey.” He (the inquirer) said, “You have told the truth.”
It amazed us that he would put the question and that he would himself verify the truth.
The inquirer then said, “Inform me about Iman.”
The Holy Prophet) replied, “That you affirm your faith in Allah, in His angels, in His Books, in His Apostles, in the Day of Judgment, and you affirm your faith in the Divine Decree about good and evil.”
The inquirer said, “You have told the truth.”
He again said, “Inform me about Ihsan.”
The Holy Prophet) replied, “That you worship Allah as if you are seeing Him, for though you do not see Him, He, verily, sees you.”
The enquirer again said, “Inform me about the hour (of Doom).”
The Holy Prophet) responded, “One who is asked knows no more than the one who is inquiring (about it).”
The inquirer said, “Tell me some of its indications.”
The Holy Prophet replied: “That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and master, and that you will find barefooted, destitute goat-herds vying with one another in the construction of magnificent buildings.”
Then the inquirer went on his way but I stayed with the Holy Prophet for a long while. He then said to me, “Umar, do you know who this inquirer was?” I replied, “God and His Apostle know best.” The Holy Prophet responded: “He was Gabriel (the angel). He came to you in order to instruct you in matters of religion.”
