Mūsā ibn Ismāʿīl narrated to us; al-Ḍaḥḥāk ibn Nibrās narrated to us; Thābit narrated from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:

While the Prophet ﷺ was sitting with his Companions, a man arrived whose clothes showed the signs of travel. He made his way through the people until he sat facing the Prophet, placed his hands on his knees, and said, “What is Islam?”

He replied, “It is to testify that there is no god but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah, to establish the prayer, to give the zakah, to fast in Ramadan, and to make pilgrimage to the House if you are able to find a way to it.”

The man asked, “If I do that, am I a Muslim?” He answered, “Yes.” The man said, “You have spoken the truth.”

The Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ whispered, “Look at him—he questions him and then confirms his words, as though he knows more than he does,” yet they did not recognize the man.

He then said, “O Muḥammad, what is faith (īmān)?” He replied, “It is to believe in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, the prophets, in death, resurrection, the reckoning, Paradise and Hell, and in destiny.”

The man asked, “If I do that, am I a believer?” He said, “Yes.” The man said, “You have spoken the truth,” and they were astonished.

He asked, “What is excellence (iḥsān)?” He replied, “That you fear Allah as though you see Him; and although you do not see Him, He certainly sees you.”

He asked, “When is the Hour?” He said, “The one who is questioned about it knows no more than the questioner, but it has its portents.”

Then the man rose to leave. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Bring that man back to me,” but they could not find him. He said, “That was Gabriel; he came to teach you your religion. Never before today did he come to me in a form I did not recognize.”