The Creed

The Creed

28- One day, we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) when there appeared before us a man dressed in extremely white clothes and had very black hair. No traces of travel were visible on him, and none of us knew him. He came in and sat down opposite the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), rested his knees against his, and placed the palms of his hands on his (the Prophet's) thighs. He said: "O Muhammad, tell me about Islam." The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "@Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish prayer, to pay Zakah, to fast Ramadan, and to perform Hajj to the House if you are able to find a way thereto*." He said: "You have spoken the truth." We wondered how he asked him and affirmed his truthfulness. Then, he said: "Tell me about Imān (faith)." He said: "It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and believe in the divine decree, the pleasant and unpleasant aspects thereof." Then, he said: "You have spoken the truth." Then, he said: "Tell me about ihsān." He said: "It is to worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you do not see Him, He sees you." He said: "Tell me about the Hour." He said: "The one questioned about it knows no more than the questioner." He said: "Then, tell me about its signs." He said: "The slave girl will give birth to her mistress, and you will see the barefoot, naked, and destitute herdsmen competing in constructing lofty buildings." Then, he departed. I stayed for a while, and then he said to me: "O 'Umar, do you know who the questioner was?" I said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said: "He was Jibrīl (Gabriel). He came to teach you your religion."

30- The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), as part of what he narrated from his Lord, said that Allah Almighty said: "@O My slaves, I have made oppression forbidden for Myself, and I have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another*. O My slaves, all of you are misguided except those whom I guide, so seek guidance from Me, and I shall guide you. O My slaves, all of you are hungry except those whom I feed, so ask Me for food, and I shall feed you. O My slaves, all of you are naked except those whom I clothe, so ask Me for clothes, and I shall clothe you. O My slaves, you commit sins by night and day, and I forgive all sins, so ask Me for forgiveness, and I shall forgive you. O, My slaves, you can neither do Me harm nor do Me any good. O My slaves, if the first and the last amongst you and all humans and jinn were all as pious as the most pious heart of any man amongst you, that would add nothing to My dominion. O My slaves, if the first and the last amongst you and all humans and jinn were all as wicked as the most wicked heart of any man amongst you, this would cause no loss to My dominion. O My slaves, if the first and the last amongst you and all humans and jinn were all to stand together in one place and ask of Me, and I were to give everyone what he asked for, that would not decrease what I possess, except what is decreased of the sea when a needle is dipped into it. O, My slaves, it is only your deeds that I record for, and I shall recompense you for them. So, whoever finds good should praise Allah, and whoever finds other than that should blame no one but himself."

51- As the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was riding a mount with Mu‘ādh behind him, he said: "O Mu‘ādh ibn Jabal!" He replied: "Here I am at your service, O Messenger of Allah." He again said: "O Mu‘ādh!" Mu‘ādh replied: "Here I am at your service, O Messenger of Allah." This was said three times. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "@There is no one who bears witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, sincerely from his heart, except that Allah will make him forbidden to Hellfire*." He said: "O Messenger of Allah, should I not inform the people of that so that they may rejoice?" He replied: "Then they would rely on this alone." Mu‘ādh narrated this Hadīth at the time of his death to avoid the sin of concealing knowledge.

64- "Indeed, Allah will distinguish a man from my Ummah before all of creation on the Day of Judgment*. Ninety-nine scrolls will be laid out for him; each scroll will be as far as the eye can see. Then, He will say: 'Do you deny any of this? Have those who recorded this wronged you?' He will say: 'No, O Lord!' He will say: 'Do you have an excuse?' He will say: 'No, O Lord!' So, He will say: 'Rather you have a good deed with us; so, you will not be wronged today.' Then, He will bring out a card, in which it is written: 'I testify that there is no god but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.' He will say: 'Bring your scale.' He will say: 'O Lord, what good is this card next to these scrolls?' He will say: 'You will not be wronged.' The scrolls will be put on a pan (of the scale), and the card on (the other) pan. The scrolls will be light, and the card will be heavy, for nothing is heavier than the name of Allah."

65- "When Allah created Paradise and Hellfire, He sent Jibrīl (Gabriel) (peace be upon him)* to Paradise, saying: 'Look at it and at what I have prepared in it for its inhabitants.' So, he looked at it, returned, and said: 'By Your Honor, no one will hear of it except that he will enter it.' Then, He gave the order for it to be surrounded with hardships. He said: 'Return to it and look at it, and at what I have prepared in it for its inhabitants.' So, he returned to it and found it surrounded with hardships. He said: 'By Your Honor, I fear that no one will enter it.' He said: 'Go to Hellfire and look at it and at what I have prepared in it for its inhabitants.' So, he looked at it and found that its parts are piling up one over another. Then, he returned and said: 'By Your Honor, none will enter it.' He gave the order for it to be surrounded with desires. Then, He said: 'Return and look at it.' He looked at it and found it surrounded with desires. He returned and said: 'By Your Honor, I fear that no one will be saved from it except that he will enter it.'"