The Essentials of Islam

Question: What is the essentials of Islam?
ANSWER
 With the grace of Allahu Taala, Who keeps all creatures in existence every moment, Who is always omnipresent and overseeing and gives all the favors and gifts, now we begin to explain the blessed saying of our Prophet (sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam). Our beloved superior Hadrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiyAllahu Taala anh), who was a heroic leader of Muslims, one of the highest Companions of the Prophet and was famous for his truthfulness, stated: “It was such a day that a few of us, the Companions, were in the presence and service of Rasulullah (sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam).” That day, that hour, was so blessed, so valuable a day that one could hardly have the chance to live it once again. On that day, it fell to his lot to be honored with being in the Prophet’s company and near him and to see his blessed face that was food, pleasure and comfort for souls. To emphasize the value and honor of that day, he said, “It was such a day...” Could there be another time as honorable and valuable as the one at which it falls to one’s lot to see Jabrail (alayhis-salam) in the guise of a human being, to hear his voice and to hear the knowledge humans need as beautifully and clearly as possible through the blessed mouth of Rasulullah (sall-Allahu Taala alayhi wa sallam)? “At that hour, a man came near us like the rising of a full moon. His clothes were extremely white and his hair was very black. Signs of travel, such as dust and perspiration were not seen on him. None of us among the Sahaba of the Prophet (sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam) recognized him, that is he was not one of the people we had seen or known before. He sat down in the Presence of Rasulullah (sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam). He placed his knees near the Prophet’s blessed knees.” This person, in the guise of a human figure, was the angel named Jabrail. Although his way of sitting seemed incompatible with manners (adab), it showed us a very important fact: in learning religious knowledge, shyness had no place, nor did pride or arrogance become a master. With this behavior, Hadrat Jabrail wanted to show the Sahaba that everybody should ask what they wanted to know about Islam freely from teachers without feeling shy, for there should not be shyness in learning Islam or embarrassment in performing, teaching or learning one’s duties towards Allahu Taala.

Belief and Islam