الآخر
(الآخِر) كلمة تدل على الترتيب، وهو اسمٌ من أسماء الله الحسنى،...
‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: 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 to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and rested his knees against his and placed the palms of his hands on the thighs of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). 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 pilgrimage to the House if you are able to find a way thereto." He said: "You have spoken the truth." It surprised us that he asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and at the same time he affirmed that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) told the truth. Then he said: "Tell me about belief). " The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Last Day, and believe in the divine decree, both good and bad." Then, the man said: "You have spoken the truth." He then said: "Tell me about Ihsān." He said: "It is to worship Allah as if you see Him, for, although you do not see Him, He sees you." He said: "Tell me about the Hour." He said: "About that, the one questioned knows no more than the questioner." The man said: "Then tell me about its signs." The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The slave girl will give birth to her mistress, and you will see the barefoot, naked, destitute herdsmen competing in constructing lofty buildings." Then the man departed. I stayed for a while, and then the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: "O ‘Umar, do you know who the questioner was?" I said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said: "That was Jibrīl, who came to teach you your religion."
شرح الحديث :
Jibrīl (peace be upon him) once appeared as an unknown man before the Companions (may Allah be pleased with him) while they were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). Assuming the posture of a learner who was seeking guidance, he sat down before the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and asked him about Islam. The Messenger of Allah answered pointing out the pillars of Islam, which are: 1. Acknowledgment of the two testimonies of Faith. 2. Observing the five daily obligatory prayers. 3. Payment of Zakah. 4. Fasting during the month of Ramadan with a sincere intention. 5. Performing Hajj for those who are able to do so. Upon hearing the answer, Jibrīl (peace be upon him) affirmed that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) told the truth. The Companions found this behavior strange, as the man seemingly asked because he had no idea about the answer, so it was strange that he could affirm it! Jibrīl (peace be upon him) then asked about belief, and the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) answered by listing the six pillars of belief, as follows: 1. Belief that Allah, the Almighty, is the Creator and the Sustainer, who possesses all attributes of perfection and who is above any aspect of imperfection 2. Belief that the angels are honorable slaves of Allah, and that they obey Him and execute His commands. 3. Belief in the Books revealed by Allah, the Almighty, to his messengers (peace be upon them). 4. Belief in the Last Day. 5. Belief in the divine decree with its good and evil aspects. 6. Belief in the messengers, who conveyed the religion of Allah, the Almighty. Then, Jibrīl (peace be upon him) asked about Ihsān, and the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) told him that it means that one should worship Allah as if he can see Him. If one failed to perform worship with this attitude, then he should worship Allah, the Almighty, out of fear, realizing that He sees and knows everything. In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that no creature has knowledge of the Hour, and that its signs include: 1. Increase in the number of slave women and their children, or the widespread of undutifulness among children, so that a child will treat his mother as a master treats his slave woman. 2. The poor and shepherds will be rich, near the end of the world, and vie with one another in erecting and decorating buildings. Jibrīl (peace be upon him) made all these questions to teach us our upright religion, as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "That was Jibrīl, who came to teach you your religion.”