believe in, and five that we cultivated in the days of ignorance and continue to observe in Islam, unless you disapprove of any of them.”

He asked, “What are the five things my messengers commanded you to practise?”

They replied, “To testify that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish prayer, pay zakat, fast Ramadan, and perform pilgrimage to the House.”

He asked, “And what are the five things they commanded you to believe in?”

They replied, “They commanded us to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, and resurrection after death.”

He asked, “And what are the five qualities you cultivated in the days of ignorance and have continued to observe in Islam?”

They replied, “Patience in adversity, gratitude in prosperity, contentment with bitter decrees, steadfastness in battle, and refraining from gloating over our enemies’ misfortunes.”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Men of knowledge and wisdom! Such is their truthfulness that they have almost become prophets.”

Then he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “I shall add five more, bringing your qualities to twenty: if you are as you say, do not amass what you will not eat, do not build what you will not inhabit, and do not compete over anything you will leave behind and depart from tomorrow. Fear Allah, to whom you will be returned and before whom you will be presented. Set your hearts on what awaits you and where you will abide forever.”

They thus distinguished between the five things to be practised, identifying them as Islam, and the five things to be believed in, identifying them as faith. All the hadiths transmitted from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, indicate the same distinction.

In the hadith narrated by Ahmad through Ayyūb, from Abū Qilābah, from a man of Syria, from his father, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to him, “Embrace Islam and you will be safe.” He asked: