The teachings of Islam was aptly summed up by its founder some eighty days before his death. The following describes the incident, as narrated by the Prophet’s (ﷺ) close companion and the second caliph of Islam, Umar ibn al-Khattab:

“While we were one day sitting with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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 (ﷺ) rested his knees against the knees of the Prophet (ﷺ) and placed his palms over his thighs, and said: "O Muhammad! Inform me about Islam."

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) replied: "Islam is that you should testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger (ﷺ), that you should perform salah (ritual prayer), pay the zakah, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House (the Ka`bah at Makkah), if you can find a way to it (or find the means for making the journey to it)."

The man said: "You have spoken the truth." We were astonished at his questioning him (the Messenger) 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 the truth."

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 its signs." He said, "They are that the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and 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 Messenger know better." He said, "That was Jibril (the Angel Gabriel). He came to teach you your religion."“

[Sahih Muslim]

The Hadith created a lasting typology of Islam’s subject-matter. Islam comprises of “islam”, the practical outward expression of the faith; “iman”, the inward beliefs and “ihsan” a spiritual excellence that animates all aspects of the Muslim experience. The last part of the Hadith informs us that Islam is an eschatological faith, and expects that man recognises his earth-bound temporal existence that will ultimately determine his abode in the life to come.