Bab Asl al-Iman at-Tasdeeq bil-Janan
The Essence of Iman is Affirmation by the Heart
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
كِتَابُ الْإِيْمَانِ *Kitab al-Iman*
بَابٌ: أَصْلُ الْإِيْمَانِ التَّصْدِيقُ بِالْجَنَانِ
قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى : إِذَا جَاءَ كَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ قَالُوا نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُ وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ لَكَاذِبُونَ ۔ (المنافقون - آیت ۱) *Allah Almighty says: "When the hypocrites come to you, they say, 'We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah.' And Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger, and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are certainly liars." (Al-Munafiqun - Verse 1)* Translation: Allah Almighty states: "When the hypocrites come to you, they say, 'We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah.' And Allah knows well that you are His Messenger, (but along with this) Allah also bears witness that the hypocrites are liars."
قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى : وَالْعَصْرِ ۔ إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ ۔ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ ۔ (العصر - آیت ۳) *Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, says: "By time, indeed mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds." (Al-Asr - Verse 3)* Translation: Allah Tabarak wa Ta'ala decrees: "By the time, indeed man is in sheer loss, except those who brought Iman and performed righteous deeds."
عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ بَيْنَمَا نَحْنُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذْ طَلَعَ عَلَيْنَا رَجُلٌ شَدِيدُ بَيَاضِ الثِّيَابِ شَدِيدُ سَوَادِ الشَّعْرِ لَا يُرَى عَلَيْهِ أَثَرُ السَّفَرِ وَلَا يَعْرِفُهُ مِنَّا *It is narrated from Umar bin al-Khattab (RA) who said: While we were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, suddenly a man appeared before us with exceedingly white clothes and exceedingly black hair; no signs of travel were seen on him, and none of us knew him.*
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أَحَدٌ حَتَّى جَلَسَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَسْنَدَ رُكْبَتَيْهِ إِلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ وَوَضَعَ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَى فَخِذَيْهِ وَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْإِسْلَامِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْإِسْلَامُ أَنْ تَشْهَدَ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَتُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةَ وَتُؤْتِيَ الزَّكَاةَ وَتَصُومَ رَمَضَانَ وَتَحُجَّ الْبَيْتَ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا قَالَ صَدَقْتَ فَعَجِبْنَا لَهُ يَسْأَلُهُ وَيُصَدِّقُهُ قَالَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْإِيمَانِ قَالَ أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ قَالَ صَدَقْتَ قَالَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الْإِحْسَانِ قَالَ أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ قَالَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ السَّاعَةِ قَالَ مَا الْمَسْئُولُ عَنْهَا بِأَعْلَمَ مِنَ السَّائِلِ قَالَ فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ أَمَارَاتِهَا قَالَ أَنْ تَلِدَ الْأَمَةُ رَبَّتَهَا وَأَنْ تَرَى الْحُفَاةَ الْعُرَاةَ الْعَالَةَ رِعَاءَ الشَّاءِ يَتَطَاوَلُونَ فِي الْبُنْيَانِ قَالَ ثُمَّ انْطَلَقَ فَلَبِثْتُ مَلِيًّا ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي يَا عُمَرُ أَتَدْرِي مَنِ السَّائِلُ قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ فَإِنَّهُ جِبْرِيلُ أَتَاكُمْ يُعَلِّمُكُمْ دِينَكُمْ ۔ (رواه مسلم ۔ كتاب الإيمان) *(He continued) until he sat by the Prophet ﷺ, resting his knees against His knees and placing his palms on His thighs. He said: "O Muhammad, inform me about Islam." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Islam is that you testify that there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the prayer, give the Zakat, fast Ramadan, and perform Hajj to the House if you are able to find a way." He said: "You have spoken the truth." We were amazed at him asking Him and confirming Him. He said: "Inform me about Iman." He said: "It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and to believe in Taqdeer, its good and its bad." He said: "You have spoken the truth." He said: "Inform me about Ihsan." He said: "It is that you worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you do not see Him, He certainly sees you." He said: "Inform me about the Hour." He said: "The one asked about it knows no more than the questioner." He said: "Inform me about its signs." He said: "That the slave girl will give birth to her mistress, and that you will see the barefoot, naked, destitute herdsmen competing in constructing tall buildings." Then he left. I remained for a while, then He said to me: "O Umar, do you know who the questioner was?" I said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said: "It was Jibril; he came to you to teach you your Deen." (Narrated by Muslim - Kitab al-Iman)*
Vocabulary (Lughaat): - طَلَعَ عَلَيْنَا : Appeared before us. - فَأَسْنَدَ رُكْبَتَيْهِ : So he rested his two knees. - عَلَى فَخِذَيْهِ : Upon his both thighs. - تُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةَ : Establish prayer with punctuality and correctness. - إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا : If you are able to make the journey to it (meaning having provisions and safe passage, which are necessary for Hajj). - الْإِحْسَانِ : Good performance; perfection of Iman. - كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ : As if you are seeing Him. - كَأَنَّ : Is a particle of similitude. It is possible to see God in a metaphoric form (Misaali shakal). - السَّاعَةِ : The Hour; appointed time of Qiyamah. - أَمَارَاتِهَا : Its signs. - أَنْ تَلِدَ الْأَمَةُ رَبَّتَهَا : That the slave girl gives birth to her mistress, meaning Hindu girls will become (Muslim). (Offspring from slave girls will be in abundance. Or girls will treat their mothers as masters treat slave girls. Or conquests will be so abundant that slave girls will be in plenty). - الْحُفَاةَ : Barefoot, having no shoes. - الْعُرَاةَ : Naked, plural of 'Aarin', completely bare. - الْعَالَةَ : Destitute, poor. - رِعَاءَ : Shepherds, plural of 'Raa'in', grazer, herdsman. - الشَّاءِ : Plural of 'Shaat', goat/sheep. - الْحُفَاةَ الْعُرَاةَ الْعَالَةَ رِعَاءَ الشَّاءِ : Those who previously had no shoes to wear, no clothes to cover the body, and were poor goat herders. (Near Qiyamah, the lowest class of people will construct tall buildings). - يَتَطَاوَلُونَ فِي الْبُنْيَانِ : They will compete in building tall buildings; they will construct high palaces. - انْطَلَقَ : He went away. - مَلِيًّا : A short while.
Translation: It is narrated from Hazrat Umar (RA) that he said, while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, a man appeared before us whose clothes were exceedingly white and his hair was exceedingly black. There was no sign of travel upon him (a person who travels becomes somewhat dusty and his hair gets dishevelled) and none of us knew him (if he were from here, someone would have known him; he was not known to anyone). He came and sat down by the Prophet ﷺ. He rested his knees against His knees and placed his palms on His thighs...
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...and said, "O Muhammad (ﷺ)! Inform me about Islam." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stated, "Testify with absolute certainty that there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (there is no entity worthy of worship other than Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). Establish prayer with punctuality and correctness, give Zakat, fast during the month of Ramadan, and perform Hajj to the House of Allah if it is possible for you to make the journey." That person said, "You have spoken the truth." We were amazed at him that he is asking the question and also verifying it. Then that person said, "Now tell me, what is Iman?" You (ﷺ) stated, "Believe in Allah, have certainty upon Him. Believe in the angels, the Messengers, the Last Day (meaning the Day of Judgment) and Taqdeer. Thoroughly understand that whatever good or bad happens, it is all by the knowledge of Allah and His Taqdeer." He said, "You have spoken the truth." Then he asked, "Inform me about Ihsan." You (ﷺ) stated, "Worship Allah as if you are seeing Him. If you cannot do this, at least understand that He is seeing you." He said, "Correct." "Then inform me about Qiyamah." Hazrat (ﷺ) stated, "The one being asked about it does not know more than the questioner." That person said, "Alright, inform me about its signs." Hazrat (ﷺ) stated, "The slave girl will give birth to her mistress (meaning there will be an abundance of children from slave girls). And those who are barefoot, naked, poor, with large families, and grazing goats, and were destitute due to having many children, will construct tall (high) houses and palaces." Hazrat Umar (RA) said, "Then that person went away and I waited for a little while, then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked me, 'O Umar! Do you know who the questioner was?' I submitted, 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' Hazrat (ﷺ) stated, 'That person was Jibril. He came to you so that he may teach you the matters of your Deen and the knowledge of the Deen.'"
Friends! What aspect is emphasized in Iman and Islam? In Iman, the emphasis is on inner belief (i'tiqad), while in Islam the emphasis is on outward action (amal). The second thing is that there is an "Umoom Khusoos Min Wajhin" (partial intersection) relationship between them. How is this? In one place both combine and in two places they separate. The one who has outward Islam but no Iman is a "Munafiq" (hypocrite). And the one who possesses Iman but not Islam is a sinner. And the one in whom Islam and Iman are combined is a true Muslim.
عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ جُنْدَبِ بْنِ جُنَادَةَ الْغِفَارِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ أَتَانِي *It is narrated from Abu Dharr Jundub bin Junadah al-Ghifari (RA) that the Prophet ﷺ said: "There came to me...*
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جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَبَشَّرَنِي أَنَّهُ مَنْ مَاتَ مِنْ أُمَّتِكَ لَا يُشْرِكُ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ قُلْتُ وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ ؟ قَالَ وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ ۔ قُلْتُ وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ ؟ قَالَ وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ ۔ قُلْتُ وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ ؟ ثُمَّ قَالَ فِي الرَّابِعَةِ عَلَى رَغْمِ أَنْفِ أَبِي ذَرٍّ ۔ (اخرجه الشيخان والترمذى) *...Jibril (AS) and gave me glad tidings that whoever dies from your Ummah without associating anything with Allah will enter Paradise." I said: "Even if he commits adultery and even if he steals?" He said: "Even if he commits adultery and even if he steals." I said: "Even if he commits adultery and even if he steals?" He said: "Even if he commits adultery and even if he steals." I said: "Even if he commits adultery and even if he steals?" Then he said the fourth time: "Despite the nose of Abu Dharr being rubbed in dust." (Recorded by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, and Al-Tirmidhi)*
Vocabulary (Lughaat): - بَشَّرَنِي : Gave me glad tidings. - سَرَقَ : Committed theft. - عَلَى رَغْمِ أَنْفِ : Despite the nose being rubbed in the dust.
Translation: It is narrated from Abu Dharr Jundub bin Junadah (RA) that the Prophet ﷺ stated: "Jibril (AS) came to me. Then he gave me the glad tidings that whoever from your Ummah dies without associating anyone as a partner with Allah will enter Paradise." Abu Dharr says, "I asked, 'Even if he commits adultery and steals?'" You (ﷺ) stated, "Even if he commits adultery and steals." I again asked, "What if he commits adultery and steals?" You (ﷺ) stated, "Even if he commits adultery and steals." I asked a third time, "What if he commits adultery and steals?" You (ﷺ) stated for the fourth time, "Yes, even if Abu Dharr's nose is rubbed in the dust." (This is an Arabic idiom. Meaning even if it is against Abu Dharr's wish. Meaning even if it goes against your opinion, why should you care). (This narration is recorded by al-Bukhari, Muslim, and al-Tirmidhi).
وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ يُخْرَجُ مِنَ النَّارِ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنَ الْإِيمَانِ ۔ قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ فَمَنْ شَكَّ فَلْيَقْرَأْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ ۔ (اخرجه الترمذى و صححه) *It is narrated from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (RA) that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever has an atom's weight of Iman in his heart will be brought out from the Fire." Abu Sa'id said: "So whoever doubts, let him recite: 'Indeed, Allah does not wrong [anyone by even] an atom's weight.'" (Recorded and graded Sahih by Al-Tirmidhi)*
Translation: It is narrated from Abu Sa'id (RA) that the Prophet ﷺ stated: "That person will be taken out of the Fire (Hell) in whose heart there is an atom's weight of Iman." Abu Sa'id (RA) said that whoever has doubt in this should read: "Allah does not wrong anyone even by an atom's weight." (Tirmidhi narrated this hadith and graded it Sahih).
وَعَنْ عُثْمَانَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ مَاتَ وَهُوَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ ۔ (رواه مسلم - مشكوة) *It is narrated from Uthman (RA) who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever dies while knowing that there is no deity except Allah will enter Paradise." (Narrated by Muslim - Mishkat)*
Translation: "The one who dies while knowing that there is no true deity worthy of worship except Allah will enter Paradise." (Muslim - Mishkat)
وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ " ثِنْتَانِ مُوجِبَتَانِ " قَالَ رَجُلٌ " يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا الْمُوجِبَتَانِ " ۔ قَالَ : " مَنْ مَاتَ يُشْرِكُ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا دَخَلَ النَّارَ وَمَنْ مَاتَ لَا يُشْرِكُ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ " ۔ (رواه مسلم - مشكوة) *It is narrated from Jabir (RA) who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Two things are obligating." A man asked: "O Messenger of Allah, what are the two obligating things?" He said: "Whoever dies associating anything with Allah will enter the Fire, and whoever dies not associating anything with Allah will enter Paradise." (Narrated by Muslim - Mishkat)*
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Translation: Hazrat Jabir (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Two things make [outcomes] obligatory." A man asked, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! What are the things that make [outcomes] obligatory?" He ﷺ said, "Whoever dies associating partners with Allah will enter Hell, and whoever dies without associating any partner with Allah will enter Paradise." (Muslim, Mishkat)
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ كُنَّا قُعُودًا حَوْلَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ وَ مَعَنَا أَبُوبَكْرٍ وَ عُمَرُ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا فِي نَفَرٍ فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ مِنْ بَيْنِ أَظْهُرِنَا فَأَبْطَأَ عَلَيْنَا فَخَشِينَا أَنْ يُقْطَعَ دُونَنَا وَفَزِعْنَا فَقُمْنَا فَكُنْتُ أَوَّلَ مَنْ فَزِعَ فَخَرَجْتُ أَبْتَغِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ حَتَّى أَتَيْتُ حَائِطًا لِلْأَنْصَارِ لِبَنِي النَّجَّارِ فَدُرْتُ بِهِ هَلْ أَجِدُ لَهُ بَابًا فَلَمْ أَجِدْ فَإِذَا رَبِيعٌ يَدْخُلُ فِي جَوْفِ حَائِطٍ مِنْ بِئْرٍ خَارِجَةٍ (وَالرَّبِيعُ الْجَدْوَلُ) قَالَ فَاحْتَفَزْتُ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ فَقَالَ "أَبُوهُرَيْرَةَ؟" فَقُلْتُ "نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ" قَالَ "مَاشَأْنُكَ؟" قُلْتُ "كُنْتَ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِنَا فَقُمْتَ فَأَبْطَأْتَ عَلَيْنَا فَخَشِينَا أَنْ تُقْطَعَ دُونَنَا فَفَزِعْنَا فَكُنْتُ أَوَّلَ مَنْ فَزِعَ فَأَتَيْتُ هَذَا الْحَائِطَ فَاحْتَفَزْتُ كَمَا يَحْتَفِزُ الثَّعْلَبُ وَهَؤُلَاءِ النَّاسُ وَرَائِي فَقَالَ "يَا أَبَاهُرَيْرَةَ!" وَأَعْطَانِي نَعْلَيْهِ فَقَالَ "اِذْهَبْ بِنَعْلَيَّ هَاتَيْنِ فَمَنْ لَقِيَكَ مِنْ وَرَاءِ هَذَا الْحَائِطِ يَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ مُسْتَيْقِنًا بِهَا قَلْبُهُ فَبَشِّرْهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ"۔ فَكَانَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ لَقِيتُ عُمَرُ فَقَالَ مَاهَاتَانِ النَّعْلَانِ يَا أَبَاهُرَيْرَةَ؟" قُلْتُ "هَاتَانِ نَعْلَا رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ بَعَثَنِي بِهِمَا مَنْ لَقِيتُ يَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ مُسْتَيْقِنًا بِهَا قَلْبُهُ بَشَّرْتُهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ"۔ فَضَرَبَ عُمَرُ بَيْنَ ثَدْيَيَّ فَخَرَرْتُ لِاسْتِي فَقَالَ "ارْجِعْ يَا أَبَاهُرَيْرَةَ!" فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ فَأَجْهَشْتُ بِالْبُكَاءِ۔ وَرَكِبَنِي عُمَرُ وَ إِذَا هُوَ عَلَى أَثَرِي۔ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ "مَالَكَ يَا أَبَاهُرَيْرَةَ؟" قُلْتُ "لَقِيتُ عُمَرَ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ بِالَّذِي بَعَثْتَنِي بِهِ فَضَرَبَ بَيْنَ ثَدْيَيَّ ضَرْبَةً خَرَرْتُ لِاسْتِي۔ فَقَالَ ارْجِعْ۔ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ "يَاعُمَرُ! مَاحَمَلَكَ عَلَى مَافَعَلْتَ" قَالَ "يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَ أُمِّي أَ بَعَثْتَ أَبَاهُرَيْرَةَ بِنَعْلَيْكَ مَنْ لَقِيَ يَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ مُسْتَيْقِنًا بِهَا قَلْبُهُ بَشِّرْهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ؟" قَالَ "نَعَمْ" قَالَ "فَلَا تَفْعَلْ فَإِنِّي أَخْشَى أَنْ يَتَّكِلَ النَّاسُ عَلَيْهَا فَخَلِّهِمْ يَعْمَلُونَ"۔ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ "فَخَلِّهِمْ"۔ (رواه مسلم - مشكوة)
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Translation: Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that we were sitting around the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and with us were Abu Bakr and Umar (RA) among a group of people. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood up from among us and delayed in returning to us. We feared that he might be separated from us (someone might stop him), so we became anxious and stood up. I was the first to become anxious, so I went out looking for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ until I came to a garden belonging to the Ansar of Banu Najjar. I went around it [to see] if I could find a gate for it, but I did not find any. Then I saw a stream flowing into the inside of the garden from a well outside. (A *rabi'* is a small stream). He said, I shrank myself and entered upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He ﷺ said, "Abu Hurairah?" I said, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." He ﷺ said, "What is the matter with you?" I said, "You were among us, then you stood up and delayed in returning to us, so we feared that you might be separated from us, so we became anxious. I was the first to become anxious, so I came to this garden and shrank myself as a fox shrinks itself, and these people are behind me." He ﷺ said, "O Abu Hurairah!" and gave me his sandals, saying, "Go with these two sandals of mine, and whoever you meet behind this garden testifying that there is no god but Allah, with his heart certain of it, give him the glad tidings of Paradise." The first person I met was Umar. He asked, "What are these sandals, O Abu Hurairah?" I said, "These are the sandals of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, with which he has sent me; whoever I meet testifying that there is no god but Allah, with his heart certain of it, I should give him the glad tidings of Paradise." Umar struck me between my breasts [chest], and I fell on my bottom. He said, "Go back, O Abu Hurairah!" So I went back to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and burst into tears. Umar followed me, and lo, he was on my tracks. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "What is the matter with you, O Abu Hurairah?" I said, "I met Umar and informed him of what you sent me with, so he struck me between my breasts a blow that made me fall on my bottom. He said, 'Go back'." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "O Umar! What drove you to do what you did?" He said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you! Did you send Abu Hurairah with your sandals, [saying] whoever he meets testifying that there is no god but Allah, with his heart certain of it, he should give him the glad tidings of Paradise?" He ﷺ said, "Yes." He said, "Do not do so, for I fear that the people will rely on it. Let them do deeds."
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