M4KTABA

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

One of the most important teachings of our faith is preserved in the Hadith of Jibreel. The Companions were once sitting with Prophet Muhammad ﷺ when a man in pure white clothes, with no signs of travel, suddenly appeared. None of them recognized him, yet he walked directly to the Messenger ﷺ, sat before him, and began asking questions.

This was Jibreel (Gabriel), the angel, who had come in human form to teach the Muslims about the foundations and levels of religion. His method was striking: instead of a sermon, he asked questions in front of everyone. Questions that revealed the core of our religion.

Islam, Iman, and Ihsan

Jibreel first asked: “What is Islam?” The Prophet ﷺ answered by describing the five pillars - the outward acts of worship that form the visible practice of a Muslim.

Then he asked: “What is Iman?” The Prophet ﷺ explained the six pillars of faith: belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and divine decree. These are matters of the heart and conviction, unseen but deeply rooted.

Finally, Jibreel asked: “What is Ihsan?” The Prophet ﷺ gave a definition that has inspired Muslims for centuries: “To worship Allah as if you see Him; and if you do not see Him, know that He sees you.” This is the highest level, where certainty in Allah (yaqeen) transforms worship into presence, sincerity, and love.

Why This Hadith Matters Today

This single conversation lays out the three levels of the religion: Islam (practice), Iman (belief), and Ihsan (excellence). For us living in the West, where faith often feels reduced to identity or ritual, the Hadith Jibreel reminds us that Islam is not just about what we do, but also what we believe and how we live with certainty.

When Allah says: “Whatever you spend, He will replace it” (Qur’an 34:39), do we give in charity with full yaqeen that our wealth will never decrease?
When He says: “Indeed, I am near” (Qur’an 2:186), do we make du‘a with hearts certain of His nearness and His response?

Rediscovering Ihsan

Strengthening our yaqeen is not just about knowledge - it is about training the heart to trust Allah’s promises more than the illusions of this world. The Hadith Jibreel teaches us that the peak of religion is Ihsan, where every prayer, every du‘a, and every action is infused with awareness of Allah.

May Allah make us among those who live Islam, deepen our Iman, and strive for Ihsan until certainty fills our hearts.

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في امان الله.