Gardens of the Righteous — Page 19
RIYADH AS-SALIHIN 19 should be disclosed, the blessing of the transaction is wiped out (Bokhari and. Muslim). 5. . On Self-Examination. Allah, the Exalted, has said: 16. Who sees thee when thou standest alone for prayer, and also sees thy movements in the company of those who prostrate themselves in Prayer along with thee (26. 219-22). 17. He is with you wheresoever you may be (57. 5). 18. Nothing is hidden from Allah, in the earth or in the heaven (3. 6). 19. Surely, thy Lord is on the watch (89. 15). 20. He knows the treachery of the eyes and that which the minds conceal (40. 20). 60. . Umar ibn Khattab relates: We were sitting one day with the Holy. Prophet when a man appeared among us whose clothes were of an intense whiteness, whose hair was very black, who bore no mark of travel and who was not known to any of us. He sat down in front of the Holy Prophet, their knees touching, and placing his hands on his thighs he said: Muhammad, tell me about Islam. The Holy Prophet said: Islam is that you should bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship save Allah alone and that Muhammad is His. . Messenger, and that you should observe Prayer, pay the Zakat, observe the fast during Ramadhan, and perform the Pilgrimage to the House if you can afford the journey thither. The man said: That is right. We were surprised that he inquired and also confirmed the correctness of the answer. He then said: Tell me about faith. The Holy Prophet said: That you should believe in Allah, His. Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and that you should believe that He determines the measure of good and evil. The man said: That is right. . Now tell me about the due performance of obligations. The Holy Prophet said:. That you should worship Allah as if you are beholding Him, and if not then in the consciousness that He is watching you. The man said: Now tell me about the. Hour of Judgment. The Holy Prophet said: He who is being asked knows no more about it than the one who asks. The man then said: Well, tell me some of the signs of its approach. The Holy Prophet made answer: That the handmaiden should give birth to her master and that barefooted, barebodied, penurious goatherds should be seen lording it in great mansions. Then the man departed, and I remained a while. The Holy Prophet said to me: Umar, do you know who the questioner was? I said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: It was Gabriel who came to instruct you in your faith (Muslim).