What is Faith, Islam and Excellence? The Prophet’s (SAW) answer in Hadith Jibreel
Umar bin Al-Khattab said: Once we were sitting in the company of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) when a man dressed in brilliant white clothes appeared he had extraordinarily black hair, there was no sign of fatigue of journey on him nor did any one of us know him. He sat down humbly facing him, with hands on his thighs and said, “O Muhammad (PBUH)! Tell me about Islam”. He (PBUH)replied, “Islam is to testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that Muhammad (PBUH) is the Messenger of Allah; that you observe Salat (prayers), pay Zakat, observe Saum (fasting) of Ramadan and perform Hajj (pilgrimage) of the House, provided you have resources of making journey to it.” He replied: “You have spoken the truth”. We were surprised to hear this since he had asked the question and was now confirming the correctness of the answers.
He then enquired: “Tell me about Iman”. He (PBUH) said. “It is to believe in Allah, and His Books, and His Messengers and the Last Day and that you believe in predestination, it’s bad and good consequences.’ again ‘He said, “You have spoken the truth.”
He then enquired: “Tell me about Ihsan.” He (PBUH) said, “It is to worship Allah as if you are seeing Him; and although you do not see Him, He sees you”. He enquired: “Inform me about the Hour (i.e., the Day of Resurrection)”. He (PBUH) replied, “I have no more knowledge there of than you”. He said, “Inform me about some of its signs”. He (PBUH) said, “They are – that a maid will give birth to her own master, and that you will find the barefooted, naked, poor shepherds competing one another in the construction of higher buildings”. Then he departed. The Messenger of Allah kept silent for a while then he said to me, “O Umar! Do you know who the questioner was?” I replied, “Allah and His Messenger know better”. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “He was Jibreel and he came to teach you your religion”. (Muslim)
Commentary: islam is belonging, iman is believing and ihsan is behaving
