One day, as the Rasul of Allah (saw) was sitting among people, a man approached him and asked:

“O Rasul of Allah, what is faith (iman)?”

Muhammad (saw) replied:

“Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, to believe in uniting with Allah, and to believe in the resurrection after death.”

The man then asked:

“What is Islam?”

Muhammad (saw) explained:

“Islam is to worship Allah, not associating anything with Him, to establish the obligatory prayers, to give the obligatory alms (Zakat), and to fast during the month of Ramadan.”

The man inquired further:

“What is Ihsan?”

Muhammad (saw) answered:

“Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him, for even though you do not see Him, He surely sees you.”

Next, the man asked:

“When will the Day of Judgment occur?”

Muhammad (saw) replied:

“The one who is asked about it does not know more than the one who is asking. However, I can tell you some of its signs:

When a slave woman gives birth to her mistress. (This indicates a state of societal disorder where relationships are inverted.)

When barefoot and naked people compete in constructing tall buildings. (This suggests materialism and the pursuit of power.)

When shepherds compete in the construction of tall buildings. (A reference to ostentatious displays of wealth and social inequality.)                                                                                                                                                            

These are some of the signs of the Day of Judgment. However, its exact timing is known only to Allah:

Indeed, the knowledge of that hour (death) is with Allah, He sends down the rain, He knows what is in the wombs; no one knows what the future will bring, and no one knows where they will die! Indeed, Allah is the Aleem, the Habir.”[1]

After providing these explanations, the Rasul of Allah (saw) asked his companions to bring back the man who had asked these questions. However, when they searched for him, he was nowhere to be found. Our Master then revealed the true identity of the man:

“That man was Gabriel (Jibril). He came to teach people about their religion.”

***

“What did our Master Muhammad (saw) say about ‘qadar’ (predestination), which is one of the pillars of faith and is expressed with the phrase ‘know your destiny’? 

Let’s see it in Sahih Muslim, narrated by Hadhrat Ali (ra):

One day, the Rasul of Allah (saw) was sitting and tapping the ground with a stick he had in his hand while in deep thought. At one point, he raised his head and said:

“The place in Paradise and the place in Hell for every soul among you has been determined, and it is known.” The companions asked:

“O Rasul of Allah, if that is the case, why should we strive and work? Shouldn’t we just rely on what is already predestined for us?”

The Rasul (saw) replied:

“No, do not rely solely on what has been predestined. Instead, strive, take action, and work. Each one of you will find it easy to do the deeds that they were created for.”

This teaching is in line with the Quranic verse:

Say, “Everyone acts according to his own creation program (natural disposition; fitrah)” This is why your Rabb (who is the Fatir) knows best who is on the right path!”[2]

So, while our ultimate destination may be known to Allah, we are still encouraged to make efforts, do good deeds, and follow the path of righteousness.”

***

The Rasul of Allah (saw) said: “Adam and Moses, peace be upon them, once engaged in a dispute before their Rabb, each presenting their arguments. In the end, Adam prevailed over Moses with the strength of his evidence. 

Moses said: “Are you not Adam, whom Allah created with His own hand, breathed His own spirit into, caused His angels to prostrate to, settled in His paradise, and then, due to his sin, caused humanity to descend to the earth?” 

Adam replied: “Are you not Moses, whom Allah distinguished with Prophethood and His word, gave the tablets containing all things in detail, and gently brought near to Himself as a speaker? Do you know that Allah wrote the Torah forty years before I was even created?”

Moses asked: “Forty years before?” Adam continued: 

“Yes, indeed. Did you find in the Torah the verse that says: ‘And Adam disobeyed his Lord and erred’ (Quran 20:121)?”

Moses replied: “Yes, I found it.” 

Adam then said: “So, are you reproaching me for something that Allah had decreed for me to do forty years before He created me?” 

Then, Rasulullah (saw) added: “Thus, Adam defeated Moses in their argument with this evidence.”

***

Regarding following the ways of Jews and Christians, Rasulullah (saw) said:

“Indeed, you will closely follow the practices of the nations that preceded you, even to the extent of treading in their footsteps inch by inch, so much so that if they were to enter the hole of a lizard, you would also enter it.”

A companion asked:

“O Rasulullah (saw), are those nations the Jews and Christians?”

Rasulullah (saw) replied:

“Who else could it be?”

***

When death approached Abu Talib, Rasulullah (saw) came to him and found Abu Jahl and Abdullah ibn Abi Umayyah ibn Mughire with him.

Rasulullah (saw) said, “O uncle, say ‘La ilaha illAllah’ (There is no god, only Allah) so that I may intercede for you with Allah.”

Upon this, Abu Jahl and Abu Umayyah protested, “O Abu Talib, are you forsaking the religion of Abdul-Muttalib?”

Despite their objections, Rasulullah (saw) continued to insist on presenting the declaration of the Oneness of Allah (The Word of Unity - Kalima-i Tawhid).

Others persisted in urging him to reject it.

Finally, Abu Talib said, “He (referring to himself) is upon the religion of Abdul-Muttalib,” and thus, he refrained from uttering the declaration of the Oneness of Allah.

Afterward, Rasulullah (saw) said, “Know that I will seek forgiveness from Allah for you as long as I am not forbidden.”

Following this, Allah, the Almighty, revealed verse 113 of Surah At-Tawbah:

“It is not for the Nabi or the believers, to ask forgiveness for the dualists, even if they are relatives, after it has become clear that they are companions of fire.”[3]