Umar also told me that, toward the end of the life of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, a man said, “O Messenger of Allah, may I draw near to you?” He said, “Yes.” So he came forward and placed his hand upon his knee, then said, “What is Islam?”

He said, “Islam is to worship Allah without associating anything with Him, establish the prayer, give zakah, fast Ramadan, and make pilgrimage to the House.”

He said, “If I do that, have I then submitted?” He said, “Yes.” He said, “You have spoken the truth.” The people began to marvel, saying, “Look at him: he asks him, then confirms what he says.”

He said, “What is excellence?”

He said, “It is to worship Allah as though you see Him; for even though you do not see Him, He sees you.”

He said, “If I do that, have I then attained excellence?” ⦗648⦘ He said, “Yes.” He said, “You have spoken the truth.” The people again began to marvel, saying, “Look at him: he asks him, then confirms what he says.”

He said, “What is faith?”

He said, “It is to believe in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Scripture, the prophets, Paradise, the Fire, resurrection after death, and the divine decree in its entirety.”

He said, “If I do that, have I then believed?” He said, “Yes.” He said, “You have spoken the truth.” The people began to marvel and say, “Look how he asks him, then confirms what he says.”

He said, “When will the Hour be?”

He said, “The one questioned about it knows no more than the questioner.”

He said, “What are its signs?”

He said, “That a woman should give birth to her mistress, and that you should see the barefoot, naked, destitute, deaf, and mute become kings, competing with one another in lofty buildings.”

Then he departed. Afterwards, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, met Umar and said, “Do you know who the man was who came to you?” He said, “It was Gabriel. He came to teach you your religion.” ⦗649⦘

Muslim transmitted it from Hajjaj ibn al-Sha'ir, from Yunus ibn Muhammad, from al-Mu'tamir.