The Hadith of Jibril: Islam, Iman, and Ihsan

Transliteration

Qāla fa-akhbirnī 'anil-Islām. Qāla: al-Islāmu an tashhada allā ilāha illallāhu wa anna Muhammadan rasūlullāh, wa tuqīmaṣ-ṣalāh, wa tu'tiyaz-zakāh, wa taṣūma Ramaḍān, wa taḥujjal-bayta inistaṭa'ta ilayhi sabīlā... Qāla fa-akhbirnī 'anil-Īmān. Qāla: an tu'mina billāhi wa malā'ikatihi wa kutubihi wa rusulihi wal-yawmil-ākhir, wa tu'mina bil-qadari khayrihi wa sharrih... Qāla fa-akhbirnī 'anil-Iḥsān. Qāla: an ta'budallāha ka'annaka tarāh, fa'in lam takun tarāhu fa'innahu yarāk

Translation

Narrated Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA): One day while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, there appeared before us a man with extremely white clothes and extremely black hair... He placed his knees against his knees and placed his palms on his thighs and said: 'O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger, to perform the prayer, to give zakah, to fast Ramadan, and to make pilgrimage to the House if you are able.' He said: 'You have spoken the truth.' He said: 'Tell me about Iman.' He said: 'It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in Divine decree, both the good and evil of it.' He said: 'You have spoken the truth.' He said: 'Tell me about Ihsan.' He said: 'It is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and though you do not see Him, He surely sees you.' The Prophet ﷺ later said: 'It was Jibril, who came to teach you your religion.'