He asked, “Who created the earth?” He replied, “Allah.”

He continued, “Who raised these mountains and placed within them what is there?” He replied, “Allah.”

He said, “Then, by the One who created the heaven and the earth and raised these mountains, did Allah send you?” He answered, “Yes.”

The man went on: “Your messenger says that five prayers are due from us each day and night.” He replied, “He has spoken the truth.” The man said, “By the One who sent you, did Allah command you to do this?” He answered, “Yes.”

The man said, “Your messenger says that we are to pay alms from our wealth.” He replied, “He has spoken the truth.” The man said, “By the One who sent you, did Allah command you to do this?” He answered, “Yes.”

The man said, “Your messenger says that we must fast one month every year.” He replied, “He has spoken the truth.” The man said, “By the One who sent you, did Allah command you to do this?” He answered, “Yes.”

The man said, “Your messenger says that we must make pilgrimage to the House, for whoever is able to find a way to it.” He replied, “He has spoken the truth.”

Then the man turned away, saying, “By Him who sent you with the truth, I will add nothing to these duties and omit nothing from them.”(1)

The Prophet ﷺ remarked, “If he is truthful, he will certainly enter Paradise.”

This ḥadīth is recorded in both Ṣaḥīḥs and in other collections through numerous chains and wordings on the authority of Anas ibn Mālik, may Allah be pleased with him. Muslim relates it through Abū al-Naḍr Hāshim ibn al-Qāsim from Sulaymān ibn al-Mughīrah, while al-Bukhārī also cites it in suspended form through another route.(2)

It is further transmitted along a different chain with a similar wording: Imām Aḥmad(3) said, “Ḥajjāj related to us, Layth related to us, Saʿīd ibn Abī Saʿīd related to me from Sharīk ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Abī Namir, who heard Anas ibn Mālik say:

‘While we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the mosque, a man entered on a camel. He made it kneel inside the mosque, tied its hobble, and said, "Which of you is Muhammad?" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was reclining among them, so we replied, "That fair-skinned man who is reclining." The man said, "O son of ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ answered, "I have responded to you." The man continued, "O Muḥammad, I am going to ask you something and press you hard in questioning; so do not resent me." He said, "Ask whatever you wish."

The man said, "I adjure you by your Lord and the Lord of those before you: has Allah sent you to all people?" He replied, "Yes, by Allah." He said, "I adjure you by Allah: did Allah command us to offer the five prayers by day and by night?" He replied, "Yes, by Allah." He said, "I adjure you by Allah: did Allah command us to fast this month of the year?" The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied, "Yes, by Allah." (He said, "I adjure you by Allah: did Allah command you …”)