Hadith #499

Arabic Text

English Translation

Isma'il narrated to us, Abu Hayyan narrated to us from Abu Zur'ah ibn 'Amr ibn Jarir, from Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) who said: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was one day sitting publicly among the people when a man came to him and said: "O Messenger of Allah, what is iman (faith)?" He said: "Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, His Book, meeting Him, His Messengers, and to believe in the Final Resurrection." He said: "O Messenger of Allah, what is Islam?" He said: "Islam is to worship Allah without associating anything with Him, to establish the prescribed prayer, to pay the obligatory zakah, and to fast Ramadan." He said: "O Messenger of Allah, what is ihsan (excellence)?" He said: "To worship Allah as though you see Him, for even if you do not see Him, He sees you." He said: "O Messenger of Allah, when is the Hour?" He said: "The one being asked about it knows no more than the one asking. But I will tell you about its signs: when the slave-woman gives birth to her master, that is among its signs. When the naked, barefoot, and uncouth become the leaders of the people, that is among its signs. When the shepherds of sheep compete in constructing tall buildings, that is among its signs. (The knowledge of the Hour) is among five things that none knows except Allah." Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited: 'Indeed, Allah alone has knowledge of the Hour and sends down the rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no soul knows what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in what land it will die. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.' Then the man turned away, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Bring the man back to me." They went to bring him back but saw nothing. He said: "This is Jibril (عليه السلام). He came to teach the people their religion."