Hadith 2 — Islam, Iman & Ihsan: The Complete Religion
[Arabic,إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ، نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ، وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَسَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ. ]
Indeed, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil within ourselves and from the consequences of our wrong actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide; whomsoever He leaves astray, none can guide. I bear witness there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah alone without partner, and Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger.
Part One: The Complete Teaching in One Conversation
Brothers,
Today's khutbah is based on one of the most important hadiths in our entire religion—known as Hadith Jibril—the second hadith in Imam Nawawi's famous 40 Hadith collection. This single narration contains the entire structure of Islam: what we do, what we believe, how we perfect it, and what we prepare for. It is a miracle of prophetic teaching that the Angel Jibril, peace be upon him, came in human form to ask these questions publicly so the Companions could learn their religion in full.
Let us reflect on this hadith with deep focus and attention, taking each part of it seriously, and applying it to our lives wherever we are.
[Hadith,Muslim,"Also on the authority of Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra), who said: While we were one day sitting with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, there appeared before us a man whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black. No signs of travel were visible on him, and none of us knew him. He sat down close by the Prophet ﷺ, rested his knees against the Prophet's knees, and placed his hands on his thighs. He said: 'O Muhammad, inform me about Islam.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish the prayer, to pay zakat, to fast in Ramadan, and to make the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to do so.' He said: 'You have spoken truly.' We were amazed that he would ask him and then confirm that he spoke truly. He said: 'Then inform me about Iman.' He ﷺ replied: 'It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in the divine decree, both the good and the evil of it.' He said: 'You have spoken truly.' Then he said: 'Inform me about Ihsan.' He ﷺ replied: 'It is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, then indeed He sees you.' He said: 'Inform me about the Hour.' He ﷺ said: 'The one asked knows no more than the questioner.' He said: 'Then inform me about its signs.' He ﷺ said: 'That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress, and that you will see the barefoot, naked, destitute shepherds competing in the construction of tall buildings.' Then the man left, and I remained for a while. Then the Prophet ﷺ said: 'O Umar, do you know who the questioner was?' I said: 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' He ﷺ said: 'That was Jibril. He came to teach you your religion.'"]
This hadith is the foundation of everything in Islam. The scholars have said that all of Islamic knowledge is contained within it. If you understand and implement what this hadith teaches, you will have understood and implemented the entire religion.
Let us go through its lessons in four sections: Islam, Iman, Ihsan, and the Hour.
The Five Pillars of Islam
Islam, in the language of this hadith, refers to the outward practices—the actions that define a Muslim in this world. These are the five pillars that hold up the entire structure of our deen.
First: The Testimony of Faith (Shahadah)
To testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. This is the foundation of everything. Without it, no other deed is accepted. But with it, even the smallest deed becomes massive in the sight of Allah.
[Quran,47:19,"So know ˹well, O Prophet,˺ that there is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Allah. And seek forgiveness for your shortcomings and for ˹the sins of˺ the believing men and women. For Allah ˹fully˺ knows your movements and places of rest."]
This testimony means we submit to Allah alone in worship, and we follow the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ alone in how we worship. No innovated practices, no cultural additions—just pure submission to what Allah revealed.
Second: Establishing the Prayer (Salah)
Five daily prayers. Not just praying them, but establishing them—praying them on time, with focus, with proper ablution, facing the qiblah, with humility and presence of heart.
[Quran,29:45,"Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book, and establish prayer. Surely prayer restrains one from indecency and wickedness. The remembrance of Allah is ˹an˺ even greater ˹obligation˺. And Allah ˹fully˺ knows what you do."]
Prayer is the pillar that separates the Muslim from the disbeliever. It is the first thing we will be asked about on the Day of Judgment. If our prayer is sound, everything else will be sound. If our prayer is corrupt, everything else will be corrupt.
In this place, brothers, you have an opportunity most people in the world do not have—you can pray every prayer in congregation, without the distractions of work, family obligations, or entertainment. Do not waste this blessing.
Third: Paying Zakat
This is the purification of wealth. For those who have wealth above a certain threshold, they must give 2.5 percent annually to those in need. Even here in prison, if you have money in your account and it reaches the threshold, zakat becomes obligatory on you.
[Quran,9:103,"Take from their wealth ˹O Prophet˺ charity to cleanse and purify them, and pray for them—surely your prayer is a source of comfort for them. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing."]
Zakat teaches us that wealth is a test, not a trophy. It belongs to Allah, and He has decreed that a portion of it belongs to the poor and needy. When we give it, we are not doing them a favor—we are fulfilling their right.
Fourth: Fasting Ramadan
One month a year, we abstain from food, drink, and marital relations from dawn until sunset. This is a school of taqwa—God-consciousness.
[Quran,2:183,"O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺."]
Fasting teaches us discipline, patience, and empathy for those who go hungry every day. It breaks the tyranny of our desires and reminds us that we can control our appetites when we submit to Allah's command.
In prison, fasting can be especially challenging—or especially easy, depending on how you view it. You already have limited food options and a structured schedule. Use Ramadan to elevate your worship and draw closer to Allah.
Fifth: Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah)
For those who are physically and financially able, the journey to the House of Allah in Makkah is obligatory once in a lifetime.
[Quran,3:97,"In it are clear signs and the standing place of Abraham. Whoever enters it should be safe. Pilgrimage to this House is an obligation by Allah upon whoever is able among the people. And whoever disbelieves, then surely Allah is not in need of ˹any of His˺ creation."]
Most of you in this room may not be able to perform Hajj right now. But the intention counts, and the desire counts. And Allah may grant you freedom and the ability to go before you die. Make du'a for it. And if you never go, know that Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.
These five pillars are Islam—the structure of our religion. They are simple, accessible, and clear. A person can learn them in an hour and practice them for a lifetime.
[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"A Bedouin came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked, 'What has Allah obligated upon me of prayer?' He ﷺ said: 'Five prayers in the day and night, unless you want to do extra voluntarily.' He asked, 'What has Allah obligated upon me of fasting?' He ﷺ said: 'The month of Ramadan, unless you want to do extra voluntarily.' He asked about zakat and Hajj, and the Prophet ﷺ informed him. Then the man said, 'By the One who honored you, I will do no more and no less than this.' The Prophet ﷺ said: 'He has succeeded, if he is truthful.'"]
Success is simple. But it requires truthfulness and steadfastness. Do not stop until your last breath.
The Six Articles of Faith (Iman)
After explaining Islam, Jibril asked about Iman—the beliefs that must reside in the heart of every Muslim. These six articles are the foundation of our creed.
First: Belief in Allah
To believe that Allah alone is the Creator, the Sustainer, the All-Knowing, the All-Powerful, the Most Merciful. He has no partner, no son, no equal. He is not in need of anyone, and everyone is in need of Him.
[Quran,112:1-4,"Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ 'He is Allah—One ˹and Indivisible˺; Allah—the Sustainer ˹needed by all˺. He has never had offspring, nor was He born. And there is none comparable to Him.'"]
This belief transforms how we see everything. If Allah is the only One in control, then we fear no one else. If Allah is the Most Merciful, then we never lose hope. If Allah is All-Knowing, then we know nothing is hidden from Him—neither our struggles nor our sins.
Second: Belief in the Angels
The angels are created from light. They do not disobey Allah. They carry out His commands without hesitation. Jibril is the greatest of them—the one who brought revelation. Mikail oversees provision and rain. Israfil will blow the trumpet on the Day of Judgment. The Angel of Death takes souls. And there are angels assigned to each of us, recording our deeds.
[Quran,82:10-12,"Yet you are certainly observed by vigilant, honourable angels, recording ˹everything˺. They know whatever you do."]
Knowing this should make us mindful of what we do in private. Even when no human sees us, the angels are writing. Even when we think we are alone, we are being watched.
Third: Belief in the Books
Allah revealed scriptures to guide humanity: the Scrolls of Ibrahim, the Torah to Musa, the Psalms to Dawud, the Gospel to Isa, and the Quran to Muhammad ﷺ. The Quran is the final revelation, and it abrogates all previous books. It is preserved, unchanged, and will remain until the Day of Judgment.
[Quran,15:9,"It is certainly We Who have revealed the Reminder, and it is certainly We Who will preserve it."]
We must believe in all the books, but we follow only the Quran and the authentic Sunnah. Everything we need for guidance is contained in them.
Fourth: Belief in the Messengers
From Adam to Muhammad ﷺ, Allah sent prophets and messengers to guide humanity. We believe in all of them, and we make no distinction between them in terms of belief. However, Muhammad ﷺ is the final messenger, and his message is for all of mankind until the Day of Judgment.
[Quran,2:285,"The Messenger ˹firmly˺ believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They ˹all˺ believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. ˹They proclaim,˺ 'We make no distinction between any of His messengers.' And they say, 'We hear and obey. ˹We seek˺ Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You ˹alone˺ is the final return.'"]
Fifth: Belief in the Last Day
The Day of Judgment is real. Death is real. The grave is real. Resurrection is real. The gathering, the scales, the bridge, Paradise, and Hell—all of it is real.
[Quran,99:7-8,"So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it. And whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it."]
Living with this belief changes everything. It makes us cautious about what we say and do, knowing we will stand before Allah and answer for it all.
Sixth: Belief in Divine Decree (Qadr)
Everything that happens—good or bad—is by the will and knowledge of Allah. He knew it before it happened, He wrote it, He willed it, and He created it. This does not negate our free will or our responsibility, but it gives us peace in hardship and humility in success.
Even being in prison is part of Allah's decree. And it can be a mercy if you use it correctly—to pray without distractions, to reflect and improve, to do da'wah to those around you, to build your relationship with Allah before you return to society or return to Him in death.
[Quran,9:51,"Say, 'Nothing will ever befall us except what Allah has destined for us. He is our Protector.' So in Allah let the believers put their trust."]
What matters is being ready to meet Allah—wherever we are, whatever our circumstances.
Part Two: Excellence, Preparation, and the Hour
The Reality of Ihsan
After explaining Islam and Iman, Jibril asked about Ihsan. This is the highest level—the perfection of faith and practice.
[Hadith,Muslim,"Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, then indeed He sees you."]
This is not just fear—it is presence, love, focus, and sincerity. It is to pray as if you are standing before Allah. It is to speak knowing that Allah hears every word. It is to act knowing that Allah sees every deed.
Most of us pray, but how many of us pray with Ihsan? Most of us give charity, but how many of us give with Ihsan?
[Hadith,Abu Dawud & Ahmad,"A person may pray, and nothing is recorded for him except one-tenth of it, or one-ninth, or one-eighth, or one-seventh, or one-sixth, or one-fifth, or one-quarter, or one-third, or half—depending on how much of his focus and presence he brings to the prayer."]
Imagine praying all five prayers every day for years, and only half of them are being recorded. Or one-tenth. This is a terrifying reality. It means that the body can go through the motions while the heart is absent.
Ihsan is what transforms ritual into worship. It is what makes the difference between someone who prays and someone whose prayer changes them.
Ihsan in Salah
When you stand for prayer, imagine you are standing before Allah. Picture yourself on the Day of Judgment. Feel the weight of His gaze. Focus on every word you recite. When you say "Allahu Akbar," mean it—Allah is greater than everything else in your life. When you recite Surah al-Fatihah, understand that Allah is responding to you with every verse.
[Hadith,Muslim,"Allah says: 'I have divided the prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves. When the servant says, 'All praise is for Allah, Lord of all the worlds,' Allah says, 'My servant has praised Me.' When he says, 'The Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,' Allah says, 'My servant has extolled Me.' When he says, 'Master of the Day of Judgment,' Allah says, 'My servant has glorified Me.'"]
This is Ihsan—to know that your prayer is a conversation, not a ritual.
Ihsan in Character
Ihsan also means excellence in how we treat others. To speak beautifully, knowing Allah hears. To act kindly, knowing Allah sees. To forgive others, knowing Allah forgives. To give in secret, knowing Allah will reward.
[Quote,Aisha (ra),,"She would perfume her coins before giving charity, saying: 'Because the charity goes into the Hand of Allah before it reaches the hand of the beggar.'"]
This is Ihsan—to give as if you are giving directly to Allah.
Ihsan in Prison
Brothers, you may think that Ihsan is something far from you. That excellence in worship is for scholars and saints. But Ihsan is for everyone, in every situation.
Ihsan in prison means praying with focus despite the noise. It means treating your cellmate with patience despite his faults. It means lowering your gaze despite temptation. It means speaking good words despite the foul language around you. It means seeking knowledge despite limited resources. It means making du'a in the depths of the night when everyone else is asleep.
[Quran,2:195,"And spend in the cause of Allah and do not let your own hands throw you into destruction ˹by withholding˺. And do good, for Allah certainly loves the good-doers."]
Allah loves the good-doers—those who strive for Ihsan in all they do. Even small deeds, done with Ihsan, are heavy on the scale.
The Hour and Its Signs
Finally, Jibril asked about the Hour—the Day of Judgment.
[Hadith,Muslim,"The Prophet ﷺ said: 'The one asked knows no more than the questioner.' Then Jibril said: 'Then inform me about its signs.'"]
The Prophet ﷺ did not know when the Hour would come. This knowledge belongs to Allah alone. But he did teach us its signs, so we could recognize the times we live in and prepare accordingly.
The Prophet ﷺ mentioned two major signs in this hadith:
First: Social Reversal
That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress. The scholars have explained this in multiple ways—one explanation is that children will disrespect and dominate their parents, treating them like servants. Another explanation is that slave women will give birth to free children who rule over them.
[Hadith,Ahmad,"People will treat their mothers like slaves, and their fathers like enemies."]
We see this today. Children who curse their parents. Young people who mock the elderly. Societies where the wisdom of age is replaced by the arrogance of youth. Families are broken. Respect is gone. This is a sign of the Hour.
Second: Materialism and Competition in Building
That you will see the barefoot, naked, destitute shepherds competing in the construction of tall buildings. This is one of the most striking signs. The Arabs were once simple Bedouins living in tents. Now, the Gulf states compete to build the tallest towers in the world. The Burj Khalifa. The skyscrapers of Dubai. The race for height and luxury.
This is not just about buildings—it is about the mindset. A world obsessed with material competition, where success is measured by how high you build, how much you own, how much you display.
The Prophet ﷺ predicted this over 1,400 years ago. And it is happening before our eyes.
But he did not teach us to obsess over when the Hour will come. He taught us to prepare for it.
[Hadith,Bukhari & Muslim,"A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and asked, 'When is the Hour?' The Prophet ﷺ asked: 'What have you prepared for it?' The man said: 'Nothing, except that I love Allah and His Messenger.' The Prophet ﷺ said: 'You will be with those whom you love.'"]
That is our goal. Not to predict the Hour, but to prepare for it. And the best preparation is love for Allah and His Messenger, and righteous deeds that bring us closer to them.
[Quote,Imam al-Qurtubi,At-Tadhkirah,"Death is the minor Qiyamah for every person. And every person's Day of Judgment begins the moment they die."]
Your Hour is not when the world ends. Your Hour is when you die. And none of us know when that will be. So we must be ready now.
[Quran,18:110,"Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ 'I am only a man like you, ˹but˺ it has been revealed to me that your God is only One God. So whoever hopes for the meeting with their Lord, let them do good deeds and associate none in the worship of their Lord.'"]
Do good deeds. Worship Allah alone. Prepare for your meeting with Him. That is the message of Hadith Jibril. That is the message of Islam.
We ask Allah to make us firm upon His straight path, to guide us and not let us go astray, to grant us Ihsan in our worship and our character, to prepare us for the Hour, and to make us among those who love Him and His Messenger so that we may be with them in Paradise.
Whatever good was said in this khutbah is from Allah alone, and whatever mistakes or errors are from myself and from Shaytan. I ask Allah to forgive me and you for any shortcomings.
I say these words of mine, and I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself and you all. Seek His forgiveness—indeed, He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
[Arabic,أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ. ]