Meeting with Gabriel

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Today, we delve into the second hadith from the collection of Imam Nawawi’s Forty Hadith. This hadith narrates an encounter between our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Angel Gabriel.

One day, while the Prophet (peace be upon him) was sitting with his companions, a man with extremely white clothes and dark black hair appeared before them. None of the companions recognized him, as there were no signs of travel on him. This mysterious man then sat close to the Prophet (peace be upon him), placing his knees against the knees of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and placing his hands on his own thighs.

He then asked the Prophet (peace be upon him), “O Muhammad, inform me about Islam.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, “Islam is to testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to establish prayer, to give zakat, to fast during Ramadan, and to perform Hajj if one is able to do so.”

The man replied, “You have spoken the truth.” He then asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about faith. The Prophet (peace be upon him) answered, “Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Day of Judgment, and to believe in divine destiny, both the good and the bad.”

Again, the man confirmed the truthfulness of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) response. Then, the man asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about excellence, or “ihsan.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, “Excellence is to worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this level of devotion, then know that He sees you.”

The man then proceeded to ask about the Hour, referring to the Day of Judgment. The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, “The one being asked is no more knowledgeable than the one asking. However, I will inform you of its signs. The signs of the Hour are that a slave girl will give birth to her master, and you will see barefoot, destitute shepherds competing in constructing tall buildings.”

Upon hearing this, the man disappeared. The companions were left in awe, realizing that this was none other than Angel Gabriel, who had come in human form to teach them about the fundamentals of Islam, faith, excellence, and the signs of the Day of Judgment.

Dear brothers and sisters, this hadith teaches us important lessons.

It reminds us of the core principles of Islam, such as the declaration of faith, the establishment of prayer, the giving of zakat, the observance of fasting in Ramadan, and the performance of Hajj. T

hese acts of worship are the foundation of our faith and should be upheld with sincerity and devotion.

Furthermore, the hadith emphasizes the importance of believing in the unseen, such as Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Day of Judgment. This belief strengthens our faith and reminds us that our actions in this world have consequences in the hereafter.

The hadith also highlights the concept of excellence, or ihsan, which encourages us to worship Allah as if we see Him.

Although this level of devotion may be challenging to attain, we should strive to be mindful of Allah’s presence in our lives and aim to please Him in all that we do.

Lastly, the hadith briefly mentions the signs of the Hour, reminding us that the Day of Judgment is a reality that we should constantly prepare for. We should be aware of the signs of the Hour and strive to lead righteous lives, seeking forgiveness and performing good deeds.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us reflect upon the teachings of this hadith and strive to apply them in our daily lives.

May Allah grant us the ability to uphold the principles of Islam, strengthen our faith, and strive for excellence in all aspects of our lives. May He also protect us from the trials and tribulations of the Day of Judgment.

May peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you all.

PS: This Ramadan, we are partnering with Islamic Ummah Relief to build an orphanage in Ghana. Insha’allah, make an intention, take action, and contribute to support an entire community for generations to come. See below for more details.