📜 Umm al-Sunnah: The Comprehensive Ḥadīth of Islam
When an Angel Came to Teach the Religion
It is narrated on the authority of Yahya ibn Ya‘mur that the first man who discussed Qadr (Divine Decree) in Basra was Ma‘bad al-Juhani. I, along with Humaid ibn ‘Abdur-Rahman al-Himyari, set out for pilgrimage or for ‘Umrah and said:
“Should it so happen that we come into contact with one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), we shall ask him about what is being said regarding Qadr (Divine Decree).”
Accidentally, we came across ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab while he was entering the mosque. My companion and I surrounded him—one of us stood on his right and the other on his left. I expected that my companion would authorize me to speak, so I said:
“Abu ‘Abdur-Rahman! There have appeared some people in our land who recite the Qur’an and pursue knowledge.”
After mentioning their affairs, I added:
“They claim that there is no such thing as Divine Decree and that events are not predestined.”
He (‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar) said:
“When you happen to meet such people, tell them that I have nothing to do with them and they have nothing to do with me. They are in no way connected with my belief.”
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar swore by Allah and said:
“If any one of them were to possess gold equal to the bulk of Mount Uhud and spent it in the way of Allah, Allah would not accept it from him unless he affirmed his faith in Divine Decree.”
He then said:
“My father, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه), told me: One day we were sitting in the company of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when a man appeared before us. He was dressed in pure white clothes, and his hair was extraordinarily black. There were no signs of travel on him, and none of us recognized him.
He sat down near the Prophet (ﷺ), knelt before him, placed his palms on his thighs, and said:
‘O Muhammad, inform me about Islam.’”
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Islam is that you testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; that you establish prayer, pay zakat, observe the fast of Ramadan, and perform pilgrimage to the House if you are able to bear the expense of the journey.”
The man said:
“You have told the truth.”
‘Umar said:
“It amazed us that he asked the question and then verified its truth himself.”
The man then said:
“Inform me about Īmān (faith).”
The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
“That you believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, the Day of Judgment, and that you believe in Divine Decree—both the good and the evil thereof.”
The man said:
“You have told the truth.”
He then said:
“Inform me about Iḥsān.”
The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
“That you worship Allah as if you see Him; and if you do not see Him, then indeed He sees you.”
He then said:
“Inform me about the Hour.”
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“The one who is asked knows no more than the one who is asking.”
The man said:
“Then tell me about its signs.”
The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
“That a slave-girl will give birth to her mistress, and that you will see barefooted, destitute shepherds competing with one another in the construction of lofty buildings.”
‘Umar said:
“Then he went away, and I remained with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for some time. He then said to me:
‘O ‘Umar, do you know who the questioner was?’”
I replied:
“Allah and His Messenger know best.”
He said:
“That was Jibrīl (Gabriel). He came to you to teach you your religion.”
📚 Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (Ḥadīth 8 a)
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