Hadith Jibreel

  

It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘'Umar bin Khattab (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says that: Once, we were with the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), when suddenly a person appeared before us.

 

His clothes were spotlessly white and his hairs were dark black.  Neither did he have indication of being a traveler, nor did anyone among us know him.

 

That person sat in front of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) touching his thighs to the blessed thighs of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), and he placed his hands on his thighs and said:

 

O Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), tell me what is Islam?  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Islam is that you testify that nobody can be worshipped except Allah Most High and that Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is the Prophet of Allah and to offer Salaat punctually and to give Zakaat and to fast in Ramadhan and to perform Hajj of the Ka’aba if you have the means to do so. 

 

That person (upon listening to this) said: You have said the truth.

 

We were all surprised that he himself asks questions and he himself confirms.

 

That person said: Acquaint me with Imaan.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Faith (Imaan) is that you believe in Allah Most High and His angels and His books and His Prophets and on the Day of Judgment and have certitude (Yaqeen) that good or bad is through good or bad destiny.

 

That person said: You have said the truth.

 

Then that person said: Tell me, what is Ihsaan? The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: You worship Allah Most High in such a way as if you are seeing Him.  If you are not able to do this then (at least) believe that He is seeing you.

 

Then that person said: Tell me the signs of the Day of Judgment.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: The One whom you are asking does not know more than the one who is asking.

 

He again asked: What are the signs of the Doomsday?

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: When a maid gives birth to her master and when you see that those who walk barefoot, bare bodied and shepherd sheep build lofty houses and take pride over one another.

 

The narrator that is Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) says: That person went away and I waited for a long time.  Then the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) told me: O ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him), do you know who was the questioner?

 

I replied: Allah Most High and His Prophet know best.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: That was Jibreel (May peace be upon him).  He came to you with the intention of teaching you your religion.

Imam Muslim has mentioned this Hadith and Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) has related this with some slight change.  The slight changing of words is this: When you see that those who walk barefoot, bare bodied, deaf and dumb are the kings of the world.  The establishment of the Day of Judgment is one of those 5 things which nobody except Allah Most High knows. 

 

Then the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) recited a verse of Surah Luqman

 

Bukhari and Muslim have recorded this Hadith in their works without any difference of opinion.