Hadith No. 2

Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated, "One day we were sitting in the company of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) when there appeared before us a man dressed in pure white clothes, and his hair was extraordinarily black. There were no signs of (the fatigue of) travel on him and none among us recognized him. At last he sat with the Prophet (peace be upon him), leaning his knees against his (the Prophet`s) knees and placing his hands on his thighs, and said, `O Muhammad! Tell me about Islam?` The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, `Islam means to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish prayer, pay Zakah (obligatory charity), observe the fast of Ramadan, and perform Hajj if you can afford the expenses (for your conveyance, provision, and residence).` He (the inquirer) said, `You have told the truth.`He (Umar bin Al-Khattab) said, "It amazed us that he would put the question and then he would himself verify the truth. He (the inquirer) said, `Tell me about Al-eman (i.e. faith)?` He (the Prophet) replied, `It is to affirm your faith in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and in the Divine Decree of good and evil.` He (the inquirer) said, `You have told the truth.` He (the inquirer) again said, `Tell me about Al-ihsan (perfection of faith).` He (the Prophet) said, `That you worship Allah as if you are seeing Him, for, verily, if you can not see Him, He sees you.` He (the enquirer) again said, `Tell me about the Hour (i.e., time of Resurrection).` He (the Prophet) said, `The one who is being asked about it knows no more than the one who is inquiring.` He (the inquirer) said, `Then, tell me some of its portents.` He (the Prophet) said, `The slave girl will give birth to her mistress and master, and you will find barefoot, destitute goatherds vying with one another in the construction of magnificent buildings.`" He (the narrator, Umar bin Al-Khattab) said, "Then he (the inquirer) went on his way, but I stayed with him (the Prophet) for a long while. He then said to me, `Umar, do you know who the inquirer was?` I replied, `Allah and His Messenger know best.` He (the Prophet) said, `He was Jibril (Gabriel, peace be upon him). He came to you to teach you your religion.`" (Recorded by Muslim)