Hadith of Jibreel (alaihis salaam)
Assalaamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakaatuhu
The Hadith I am quoting here is called “The Hadeeth of Jibreel”… Alhamdulillah, it is the most concise and precise and complete explanation of the basic foundations of Islam..
“One day we were sitting in the company of the Messenger of Allah, 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 of us recognized him. He sat with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Resting his knees against his and the palms of his hands on his thighs,
he said, ‘O Muhammad, tell me about Islam’.
The Messenger of Allah replied, ‘Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish the prayer, pay the zakat, observe the fast of Ramadan, and perform the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to do so’.
He said, ‘You have spoken the truth,’ and we were amazed at him asking and then verifying that he had spoken the truth.
He then said, ‘Inform me about Iman’.
He replied, ‘It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and in the divine destiny of both good and evil’.
He said, ‘You have spoken the truth’.
He then said, ‘Tell me about Ihsan’.
He said, ‘It is to worship Allah as if you see Him, for though you do not see Him, surely He sees you’.
He then said, ‘Inform me about the Hour’.
He replied, ‘The one who is asked knows no more than the one who is asking’.
He said, ‘Tell me some of its signs’.
He said, ‘That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress, and barefoot, destitute shepherds will compete with one another in the building of magnificent buildings’.
Then he (the questioner) went on his way but I stayed with him (the Prophet) for a long while.
He said to me, ‘Umar, do you know who this questioner was?’
I replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best’.
He said, ‘He was Gabriel. He came to instruct you in your religion’.”
related by ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab in Sahih Muslim
I say, each and every one of us Muslims must learn this Hadith, InshaAllah… If there is any Hadith that one must begin with to learn and understand it is this one, InshaAllah.. You have then equipped yourself with a beautiful answer, and as I mentioned earlier, with a simple, clear and precise answer for anyone who asks “What is Islam?” and Subhanallah… having known this Hadith, none of us have an excuse for not doing Da’wah (sharing and relaying the message of Islam and inviting others to Islam)… how much will it take? 2 mins of time?
I AM A NEW SHAHADA AND HAVE HEARD THE NAME ANGEL JIBREEL FROM HIM RECITING TO MUHAMMAD (SAW) THE QUR’AN AND HAD BEEN GOING THRU SOME HADITHS WITH MY HUSBAND AND HE ASKED ME THIS ONE AND THE ONLY ANSWER I KNEW OF THE ANGEL WAS OF THAT SO TO STUDY AND LEARN THIS WAS ENTRIGUING AND I AM GOING TO SIT DOWN MY CHILDREN AND BE SURE TO TEACH THIS TILL THEY GET IT!!N FOR THIS WAS FASCINATING TO ME
Alhamdulillah sister!
First of all, the Al Qadar team congratulates you on your return to the Haqq (truth), the Deen of Islam.
It is an honour to have been of service and benefit to a Muslim sister like you, Alhamdulillah and from Allah we expect our reward!
Just in case you didn’t know, the angel Jibreel (a.s) is commonly referred to as “Gabriel” by non-Arabic speakers.
We sincerely pray to Allah that He unites you with your husband and children in Jannah (Paradise)!
Do read the second part of this post here, InshaAllah:
http://alqadar.wordpress.com/2009/01/01/simple-da%E2%80%99wah-hadith-of-jibreel-alaihis-salaam-part-22/