Introduction: Islam, Its meaning and Doctrine

عن عمر رضى الله عنه أيضا قال: بينما نحن جلوس عند رسول الله عليه وسلم ذات يوم إذ طلع علينا رجل شديد بياض الثياب شديد سواد الشعر لايرى عليه أثر السفر ولا يعرفه منا أحد حتى جلس إلى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فأسند ركبتيه إلى ركبتيه ووضع كفيه على فخذيه وقال : يا محمد أخبرني عن الإسلام, فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : الإسلام أن تشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله, وتقيم الصلاة, وتؤتي الزكاة, وتصوم رمضان, وتحج البيت إن استطعت إليه سبيلا. قال : صدقت فعجبناله يسأله ويصدقه. قال : فأخبرني عن الإيمان, قال : أن تؤمن بالله وملائكته وكتبه ورسله واليوم الآخر وتؤمن بالقدر خيره وشره. قال صدقت قال : فأخبرني عن الإحسان, قال : أن تعبد الله كأنك تراه فإن لم تكن تراه فإنه يراك. قال : فأخبرني عن الساعة, قال : ماالمسؤول عنها بأعلم من السائل. قال : فأخبرني عن أماراتها, قال : أن تلد الأمة ربتها وأن ترى الحفاة العراة العالة رعاء الشاء يتطاولون في البنيان ثم انطلق فلبثت مليا ثم قال : يا عمر أتدري من السائل؟ قلت : الله ورسوله أعلم . قال : فإنه جبريل أتاكم يعلمكم دينكم

From Umar Ibn Al-khattab
"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 fair extraordinarily black. There were no signs of travel on him. He sat with the Prophet. Resting his kness 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 Ramadhan, and perform the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to do so'. He said, ' You are spoken the truth,' and we were amazed at him asking and then verifying that he hd 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 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 this questioner was?' I replied,' ALLAH and His Messenger know best'. He said,'He was Gabriel. He came to instruct you in your religion."