Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting in a gathering when suddenly Jibreel (peace be upon him) came and sat before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in such a way that he placed his palms on the knees of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: “O Messenger of Allah! Tell me about Islam, what is it?” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Islam is that you submit your face to Allah Almighty and bear witness that Allah Almighty alone is the true deity, He is One, He has no partner, and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His servant and Messenger.” He said: “If I perform these acts, will I become a Muslim?” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Yes, when you do these deeds, you will become a Muslim.” He said: “O Messenger of Allah! Tell me about Iman, what is Iman?” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Iman is that you believe in Allah Almighty, in the Last Day, in the angels, in the Book, in the Prophets, in death and resurrection after death, in Paradise and Hell, in reckoning and the scale, and in all of destiny, whether good or bad.” He said: “If I do these acts, will I become a believer?” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Yes, when you do so, you will become a believer.” He said: “O Messenger of Allah! Tell me, what is Ihsan?” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Ihsan is that you worship Allah Almighty as if you are seeing Him, and if you do not see Him, then surely He sees you.” He said: “O Messenger of Allah! Tell me, when will the Hour (Day of Judgment) come?” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Subhan Allah! How amazing! Its knowledge is among those five things of the unseen which only Allah Almighty knows. The statement of Allah Almighty is: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ السَّاعَةِ وَيُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْأَرْحَامِ وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ مَاذَا تَكْسِبُ غَدًا وَمَا تَدْرِي نَفْسٌ بِأَيِّ أَرْضٍ تَمُوتُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ» (Indeed, with Allah alone is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and He knows what is in the wombs. No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow, nor does anyone know in which land he will die. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.) (Surah Luqman: 34). However, if you wish, I can tell you its signs.” He said: “Yes, of course, O Messenger of Allah! Please tell me.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When you see that a slave girl gives birth to her mistress or master, and the shepherds of goats begin to boast in building tall structures, and the barefoot, hungry, and poor become the leaders of people, these are the signs of the Hour.” He said: “O Messenger of Allah! Who are meant by the shepherds of goats and the barefoot, hungry, and poor?” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The Arabs.”