[Exclusive] Hadith 2: The Levels of Religion: Islam, Iman, and Ihsan (Al-Arbain An-Nawawiyah)

Al-Arbain An-Nawawiyah.

Hadith 2: [The Levels of Religion: Islam, Iman, and Ihsan]

‌‌ ‌‌الحديث الثاني : [مراتب الدين : الإسلام والإيمان والإحسان]

عَنْ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أيضًا، قَالَ: بَيْنَمَا نَحْنُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ، إِذْ طَلَعَ عَلَيْنَا رَجُلٌ شَدِيدُ بَيَاضِ الثِّيَابِ، شَدِيدُ سَوَادِ الشَّعْرِ، لَا يُرَى عَلَيْهِ أَثَرُ السَّفَرِ، وَلَا يَعْرِفُهُ مِنَّا أَحَدٌ، حَتَّى جَلَسَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَأَسْنَدَ رُكْبَتَيْهِ إِلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ، وَوَضَعَ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَى فَخِذَيْهِ، وَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ، أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْإِسْلَامِ، فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " الْإِسْلَامُ : أَنْ تَشْهَدَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَتُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةَ، وَتُؤْتِيَ الزَّكَاةَ، وَتَصُومَ رَمَضَانَ، وَتَحُجَّ الْبَيْتَ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا ". قَالَ: صَدَقْتَ، قَالَ : فَعَجِبْنَا لَهُ يَسْأَلُهُ وَيُصَدِّقُهُ. قَالَ: فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْإِيمَانِ. قَالَ: " أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ، وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ، وَكُتُبِهِ، وَرُسُلِهِ، وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ، وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ ". قَالَ: صَدَقْتَ. قَالَ: فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْإِحْسَانِ، قَالَ: " أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ، فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ ". قَالَ: فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ السَّاعَةِ؟ . قَالَ: " مَا الْمَسْئُولُ عَنْهَا بِأَعْلَمَ مِنَ السَّائِلِ ". قَالَ: فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ أَمَارَتِهَا؟ . قَالَ: " أَنْ تَلِدَ الْأَمَةُ رَبَّتَهَا، وَأَنْ تَرَى الْحُفَاةَ الْعُرَاةَ الْعَالَةَ رِعَاءَ الشَّاءِ يَتَطَاوَلُونَ فِي الْبُنْيَانِ ", قال ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ، فَلَبِثْتُ مَلِيًّا، ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي: " يَا عُمَرُ، أَتَدْرِي مَنِ السَّائِلُ؟ . قُلْتُ: اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ. قَالَ: فإنهُ جِبْرِيلُ أَتَاكُمْ يُعَلِّمُكُمْ دِينَكُمْ» رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ.[1]

Translation:

“Narrated by Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu): One day, while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), suddenly, a man appeared before us. He was dressed in extremely white clothes and had very black hair. There were no signs of travel on him, and none of us recognized him. He then sat before the Prophet (ﷺ), placed his knees against the Prophet’s knees, and put his hands on the Prophet’s thighs. Then he said: “O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied: “Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish prayer, to give zakat, to fast during the month of Ramadan, and to perform Hajj to the House of Allah (Kaaba) if you are able to do so.” The man said, “You have spoken the truth.” We were amazed that he asked the question and then confirmed the answer himself. Then he asked, “Tell me about Iman (faith).” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Iman is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in destiny (Qadar), both its good and its bad.” The man said, “You have spoken the truth.” Then he asked, “Tell me about Ihsan.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied: “Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, then indeed He sees you.” The man then asked, “Tell me about the Hour (the Day of Judgment).” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The one being asked knows no more about it than the one asking.” The man then asked, “Tell me about its signs.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied: "The signs of the Hour are when a slave woman gives birth to her master, and when you see barefoot, bare-chested, destitute shepherds competing in constructing tall buildings." Then the man left, and I (Umar) remained silent for a while. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then said to me, "O Umar, do you know who the questioner was?" I replied, "Allah and His Messenger know best." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "That was Jibril. He came to teach you all your religion.". (Hadith narrated by Muslim)

This hadith contains information and explanations from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he was asked about Islam, Iman (faith), Ihsan (excellence in worship), and the signs of the Day of Judgment.

Imam Daqiq al-‘Ied mentioned that this hadith is like the "mother of the Sunnah," just as Surah Al-Fatihah is called the "mother of the Qur'an."[2] This is because the hadith contains the fundamental principles for a servant in practicing religion.

Read the full text!