Faith

‘Umar b. al-Khattab said::

One day when we were with God's messenger, a man with very white clothing and very black hair came up to us. No mark of travel was visible on him, and none of us recognised him. Sitting down beside the Prophet, leaning his knees against his, and placing his hands on his thighs, he said, “Tell me, Muhammad, about Islam." He replied, “Islam means that you should testify that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is God’s messenger, that you should observe the prayer, pay the zakat, fast during Ramadan, and make the pilgrimage to the House if you have the means to go." He said, “You have spoken the truth." We were surprised at his questioning him and then declaring that he spoke the truth. He said, “Now tell me about faith.” He replied, “It means that you should believe in God, His angels, His books, His apostles, and the last day, and that you should believe in the decreeing both of good and evil." Remarking that he had spoken the truth, he then said, “Now tell me about doing good." He replied, “It means that you should worship God as though you saw Him, for He sees you though you do not see Him." He said, “Now tell me about the Hour." He replied, “The one who is asked about it is no better informed than the one who is asking." He said, “Then tell me about its signs." He replied, “That a maid-servant should beget her mistress, and that you should see barefooted, naked, poor men and shepherds exalting themselves in buildings." said to me, “Do you know who the questioner was, ‘Umar?" I replied, “God and His messenger know best." He said, “He was Gabriel who came to you to teach you your religion." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira transmitted it with a difference containing the following::

When you see the barefooted, the naked, the deaf, the dumb as kings of the earth, as -well as five things which no one but God knows. Then he recited, ‘‘God has knowledge of the Hour, and He sends down the rain…” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Ibn ‘Umar reported God's messenger as saying, “Islam is based on five things::

the testimony that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, the observance of the prayer, the payment of zakat, the Pilgrimage, and the fast during Ramadan.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “Faith has over seventy branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but God, and the humblest of which is the removal of what is injurious from the road. And modesty is a branch of faith.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God's messenger as saying, “The Muslim is he from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe, and the Emigrant is he who abandons what God has prohibited.” This is Bukhari’s wording. Muslim has::

A man asked the Prophet, “Which of the Muslims is best?” He replied, “He from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe.”.

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “None of you believes till I am dearer to him than his father, his child, and all mankind.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

He also reported God’s messenger as saying, “There are three qualities for which anyone who is characterised by them will experience the sweetness of faith::

he to whom God and His messenger are dearer than all else; he who loves a human being for God’s sake alone; and he who has as great an abhorrence of returning to unbelief after God has rescued him from it as he has of being cast into hell.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Al-‘Abbas b. ‘Abd al-Muttalib reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who is well-pleased with God as Lord, with Islam as religion, and with Muhammad as messenger will experience the savour of faith,” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "By Him in whose hand Muhammad’s soul is, anyone of this people, Jew or Christian, who hears of me and then dies without believing in my message, will be among those who go to hell.” Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari reported God’s messenger as saying, "Three types will have a double reward::

one of the people of the Book who believes in his prophet and believes in Muhammad; a slave when he fulfils what is due to God and what is due to his patrons; and a man who has a slavegirl with whom he has intercourse, who gives her a good training in manners and a good education, then sets her free and marries her—he will have a double reward.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)