Meaning of Islam
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, and Most Merciful
The Meaning of Islam is Faith, Practice and Watchfulness
'Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with them) said:
Once we were sitting in the company of Messenger of Allah (PBUH) when there appeared a man dressed in very white clothes and having extraordinary black hair. No signs of fatigue of journey appeared on him and he was known to none of us.
He sat down facing the Prophet (PBUH) leaning his knees against the knees of the Prophet (PBUH) and placing both of his palms over his two thighs and said:
"O Muhammad (PBUH)! Tell me about Islam".
He (PBUH)replied:
"Islam is:
- To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that Muhammad (PBUH) is the Messenger of Allah;
- That you observe Salat (prayers),
- Pay Zakat (Obligatory Charity),
- Observe Saum (fasting) of Ramadan,
- And perform Hajj (pilgrimage) of the House, provided you have resources of making journey to it."
He replied:
"You have spoken the truth".
We were surprised to see that he had asked him and confirmed the correctness of the answers.
He then enquired:
"Tell me about Iman (Faith)".
He (PBUH) said:
"It (Iman:Faith) is:
- To believe in Allah,
- And his angels,
- And His Books,
- And His Messengers,
- And the Last Day,
- And that you believe in foreordainment, its bad and good consequences."
He said:
"You have spoken the truth."
He then enquired:
"Tell me about Ihsan (benefaction)."
He (PBUH) said:
"It (Ihsan:benefaction) is:
To worship Allah as if you are seeing Him; and although you do not see Him, He sees you".
He enquired:
"Inform me about the Hour (i.e., the Day of Resurrection)".
He (PBUH) replied:
"I have no more knowledge thereof than you".
He said:
"Inform me about some of its signs".
He (PBUH) said:
"They are - that a bondswoman gives birth to her own master, and that you will find the barefooted, naked, poor shepherds competing one another in the construction of higher buildings".
Then he departed.
The Messenger of Allah kept silent for a while then he said to me:
"O 'Umar! Do you know who the questioner was?"
I replied:
"Allah and His Messenger know better".
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
"He was Jibril (Gabriel); he came to you to teach you your religion".
[Muslim].
Commentary:
This Hadith (Saying of The Prophet -PBUH-) is known as 'Hadith Jibril'.
It mentions the basics of Islam the details of which are known to every Muslim.
Al-Qadr (Divine foreordainment) means that Allah already knows and had recorded everything that will happen until the Day of Resurrection.
Now whatever happens is in accordance with that knowledge and writing.
What is meant by its good and bad consequences can be illustrated by saying that tranquillity, prosperity and abundance of crops come in the category of good consequences.
Famine, calamities and troubles, etc., fall in the list as evil consequences.
But we regard them good or bad according to our own understanding; otherwise, every action of Allah has some wisdom and expedience which are known to Him Alone. (1)
In conclusion:
Watchfulness is the Essential part of faith, it means that a believer have to feel the presence of Allah (God) every time when he intends to speak or do something. Therefore, This hadith guides us to be prudent, so as to act good and to avoid evil, given that Allah knows and watches all our doings, and also that He listens to us, all the time.
This divine value (Watchfulness) is mentioned in this Hadith, when the messenger of God was asked about Ihssan and said:
"It is to worship Allah as if you are seeing Him; and although you do not see Him, He sees you".
Islam in its general meaning is constituted of three parts, as follows:
1- Islam (Practice).
2- Iman (Faith).
3- Ihsan (Watchfulness).
All of these meanings are explained in the Hadith.
The Pure Muslim is he who believes in the six pillars of islamic belief, establishes the five pillars of Islam and fears Allah all the time and remains steadfast in religion.