206 — Al-Firyābī also informed us. He said: Muhammad ibn Abī Bakr al-Muqaddamī narrated to us. He said: Muādh ibn Muādh narrated to us. He said: Kahmas ibn al-Hasan narrated to us, from Abd Allah ibn Burayda, from Yahyā ibn Yamar, who said:

“The first person in Basra to espouse the denial of divine decree was Mabad ⦗571⦘ al-Juhanī. Humayd ibn Abd al-Rahmān and I set out and met Abd Allah ibn Umar. We said, ‘Some people have appeared among us who recite the Quran and seek knowledge, yet they claim that there is no divine decree and that all matters arise anew, without any prior decree.’

“He said, ‘When you meet those people, tell them that I have nothing to do with them and they have nothing to do with me. By Him by whom Ibn Umar swore, if any one of them possessed gold equal to Mount Uhud and spent it all, Allah would not accept it from him until he believed in divine decree.’

“He then said, ‘My father, Umar—may Allah be pleased with him—narrated to me, saying:

“While we were with the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—a man suddenly appeared before us. His clothes were exceedingly white and his hair exceedingly black, and no sign of travel could be seen upon him. He sat before the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—rested his knee against his, and placed his palms upon his thighs. He then said, ‘O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.’

“The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—replied, ‘It is to testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; to establish the prayer, give zakat, fast Ramadan ⦗572⦘, and perform pilgrimage to the House if you are able to make your way there.’

“He said, ‘You have spoken the truth.’ We were amazed that he would question him and then affirm that he had spoken the truth.

“He said, ‘Then tell me about faith.’

“He replied, ‘It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, the Last Day, and the divine decree—both its good and its evil.’

“He said, ‘You have spoken the truth. Now tell me about excellence.’

“He replied, ‘It is to worship Allah as though you see Him; for although you do not see Him, He sees you.’

“He said, ‘Then tell me about the Hour.’

“He replied, ‘The one questioned about it knows no more than the questioner.’

“He said, ‘Then tell me about its signs.’

“He replied, ‘That a slave woman will give birth to her mistress, and that barefoot, naked shepherds of sheep will be seen vying with one another in erecting tall buildings.’

“He then departed, and I remained for three days. The Prophet 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 Gabriel. He came to teach you about your religion.’””