a man may be outwardly submissive while not inwardly affirming, and he may be inwardly affirming while not outwardly compliant.

The Prophet’s answers concerning the two differed when Gabriel, peace be upon him, asked him about them. This is related to us by Abu Tahir Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Buwayh al-Zarrad al-Bukhari: Abu al-Qasim ‘Ali ibn Ahmad al-Khuza‘i informed us; Abu Sa‘id al-Haytham ibn Kulayb al-Shashi narrated to us; Abu Ahmad ‘Isa 6/ ibn Ahmad al-‘Asqalani narrated to us; Yazid ibn Harun informed us; Kahmas ibn al-Hasan informed us, from ‘Abd Allah ibn Buraydah, from Yahya ibn Ya‘mar, who said:

“The first person to speak concerning divine decree—meaning in Basra—was Ma‘bad al-Juhani. So Humayd ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman and I set out for Mecca, and we said, ‘If only we could meet one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and ask him about what these people are saying.’ We then met ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him. My companion and I flanked him, one of us on his right and the other on his left. I knew that he would leave the conversation to me, so I said: ‘Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman, there have appeared among us people who delve into this matter and pursue it, claiming that there is no divine decree and that all matters arise anew.’

“He said: ‘When you meet those people, tell them that I am free of them and that they are free of me. By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, if one of them (1) possessed gold equivalent to Mount Uhud and spent it in the way of Allah, Allah would not accept anything from him until he believed in divine decree, its good and its evil.’ Then he said:

“‘Umar ibn al-Khattab narrated to us: “While we were with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, a man approached us, with exceedingly white clothes and exceedingly black hair. No sign of travel could be seen on him, yet none of us knew him. He came forward and sat before the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, [with his knee touching (2) his knee], and said, ‘Muhammad, tell me about Islam.’

“The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, replied, ‘It is to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; to establish the prayer; to pay the prescribed alms; to fast Ramadan; and to make pilgrimage to the House, if you are able to find a way to it.’

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

“Then he said, ‘What is faith?’ He replied, ‘It is to believe in Allah alone, His angels, His Books, His messengers, resurrection after death, Paradise and Hell, and divine decree, its good and its evil.’ He said, ‘You have spoken the truth.’

“Then he said, ‘What is excellence?’ He replied, ‘It is to worship Allah as though you see Him; for if you do not see Him, He sees you.’ He said, ‘You have spoken the truth.’

“Then he said, ‘Tell me about the Hour.’ He replied, ‘The one questioned about it knows no more than the questioner.’ He said, ‘You have spoken the truth.’ He then said, ‘Tell me about its signs.’ He replied, ‘That the slave woman will give birth to her mistress, and that you will see barefoot, unclothed shepherds of sheep competing in the construction of lofty mud-brick buildings.’ He said, ‘You have spoken the truth.’

“Then he departed. After three days had passed, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to me, ‘Umar, do you know who the man was?’ I said, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘That was Gabriel. He came to teach you the matters of your religion. He never came to me in any form without my recognizing him in it, except in this form of his.’” (3)