“Then inform me about faith.” He replied, “It is that you believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, the Last Day, and that you believe in destiny, its good and its evil.” He said, “You have spoken the truth.”

He then asked, “Tell me about excellence.” He answered, “That you worship Allah as though you see Him; yet if you do not see Him, [know that] He indeed sees you.”

He said, “Inform me about the Hour.” The Prophet replied, “The one who is questioned about it knows no more than the questioner.”

He said, “Then tell me about its portents.” He replied, “That a bond-woman will give birth to her mistress, and that you will see the barefoot, naked, destitute shepherds (1) competing with one another in the construction of lofty buildings.”

Then he departed, and I remained for a while. After some time the Prophet said, “O ʿUmar, 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 your religion.” Related by Muslim.

The phrase “that a bond-woman will give birth to her mistress” means her lady. It indicates that concubines will become so numerous that a slave woman taken as a concubine will bear a daughter for her master, and the master’s daughter holds the status of mistress—though other explanations have also been offered. The word al-ʿālah refers to the poor, and his statement maliyyan means “for a long while,” which in this case was three days.

62 – Second: On the authority of Abū Dharr Jundub ibn Junādah and Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān Muʿādh ibn Jabal – may Allah be pleased with both of them – that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Be mindful of Allah wherever you are (2); follow up a bad deed with a good one and it will erase it; and deal with people with good character.” Related by al-Tirmidhī, who said: a fair and sound hadith.

63 – Third: Ibn ʿAbbās – may Allah be pleased with both of them – said: I was riding behind the Prophet ﷺ (3) one day when he said, “Young man, I am going to teach you some words: Guard Allah and He will guard you; guard Allah and you will find Him before you (4). When you ask, ask Allah; and when you seek help, seek help from Allah. And know…"