Understanding Hadith Jibril: The Core of Islam, Iman, and Ihsan

Peace be upon you. The second Hadith:

On the authority of Umar (RA),

who said: "While we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ one day,

there appeared before us a man with extremely white garments and extremely black hair.

No signs of travel were seen on him, and none of us knew him.

He sat down by the Prophet ﷺ,

leaning his knees against his knees and placing his palms on his thighs,

and said: 'O Muhammad, inform me about Islam.'

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

'Islam is to testify that none is worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger,

to establish prayer, to give zakat, to fast Ramadan,

and to perform Hajj to the House if you are able.'

He said: 'You have spoken the truth.'

We were amazed that he would ask, then confirm the answer.

He said, 'Then tell me about faith.'

He said, 'To believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and in Qadar — its good and its bad.'

He said, 'You have spoken the truth.' Then: 'Tell me about Ihsan.'

He said, 'To worship Allah ﷻ as though you see Him,

and if you do not see Him, He surely sees you."

He said, "Then tell me about the Hour."

He said, 'The one questioned knows no more than the questioner.'

He said, "Then tell me about its signs."

He said, "Then tell me about a sign of it."

He said, 'That the slave-girl gives birth to her mistress,

and that you will see the barefoot, naked, destitute shepherds competing in construction."

He said: Then he departed, and I waited a while.

Then he said, "O 'Umar, do you know who the questioner was?"

I said, "Allah ﷻ and His Messenger ﷺ know best."

He said, "Indeed, he was Jibril (AS) who came to teach you your religion."

Narrated by Muslim.

Yes, this Hadith, the Hadith of 'Umar (RA),

is a great Hadith containing all the rulings of Islam,

Therefore, the Prophet ﷺ said: "It was Gabriel who came to teach you your religion."

Thus, all the rulings of Sharia are included in this Hadith.

For it clarified Islam, Iman, and Ihsan:

Islam concerns the actions of the limbs, and Iman the actions of the heart,

and Ihsan is mindfulness of Allah ﷻ in the actions of both the heart and the limbs.

And in this Hadith, whatever you want to speak about

regarding the outward and inward rulings of religion is included.

Therefore, some of the great scholars of the Muslims (RH) used to say:

"If you start with this Hadith, you will never finish."

You can speak about all of Islam: purification, prayer, fasting, and Hajj.

So if you start a lecture, begin with it; a month or two will pass,

and you will not have finished explaining the greatness of this Hadith.

The point is: this hadith is one of the greatest hadiths for teaching the religion,

But people, as you know, are not equal in knowledge; some people know more than others.

Yes. Peace be upon you.