The Prophet, peace be upon him,in a celebrated tradition explained the meaning of Islam. Here Shaykh Hamza Yusuf in a series of classroom lectures introduces the tradition and explores the importance of the five pillars of Islam. This resource is great for those who want to gain an elemental understanding of the Islamic faith, particularly for non-Muslims.

The introductory lessons below are related to the tradition below.

The  Gabriel (Jibraeel) Tradition >>

While we were one day sitting with the Prophet, peace be upon him, there appeared before us a man dressed in extremely white clothes and with very black hair. No traces of journeying were visible on him, and none of us knew him.

He sat down close by the Prophet, peace be upon him, rested his knee against his thighs, and said, `O Muhammad! Inform me about Islam. ’ Said the Prophet, peace be upon him, `Islam is that you should testify that there is no deity save Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, that you should perform salah (ritual prayer), pay the zakah, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House (the Kabah at Makkah), if you can find a way to it (or find the means for making the journey to it). ’ Said he (the man), `You have spoken truly.’

We were astonished at his thus questioning him and telling him that he was right, but he went on to say, `Inform me about iman (faith). ’ He (the Prophet answered, `It is that you believe in Allah and His angels and His Books and His Messengers and in the Last Day, and in fate (qadar), both in its good and in its evil aspects. ’ He said, `You have spoken truly. ’

Then he (the man) said, `Inform me about Ihsan. ’ He (the Prophet) answered, `It is that you should serve Allah as though you could see Him, for though you cannot see Him yet He sees you. ’ He said, `Inform me about the Hour. ’ He (the Prophet) said, `About that the one questioned knows no more than the questioner. ’ So he said, `Well, inform me about the signs thereof (i.e. of its coming). ’ Said he, `They are that the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress, that you will see the barefooted ones, the naked, the destitute, the herdsmen of the sheep (competing with each other) in raising lofty buildings. ’ Thereupon the man went off.

I waited a while, and then he (the Prophet) said, `O Umar, do you know who that questioner was? ’ I replied, `Allah and His Prophet know better. ’ He said, `That was Jibril (Gabriel). He came to teach you your religion. ’

(Rigorously Authentic Tradition narrated in Muslim)