The very first book of the SahIh Muslim is the �Book of Faith� (KitAb al-ImAn).  It contains 431 traditions (ahAdIs) divided into ninety-two chapters.  It discusses questions regarding faith.  Someone comes to Muhammad from a great distance, yet without any sign of fatigue, and says: �Muhammad, inform me about al-Islam.� The Messenger of Allah replies: �Al-Islam implies that you testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and you establish prayer, pay ZakAt, observe the fast of RamzAn [Ramadan] and perform pilgrimage.� Later on, when the inquirer is gone, Muhammad tells �Umar: �He was Gabriel.  He came to you in order to instruct you in matters of religion� (1). This is the very first hadIs narrated by �Umar, the future KhalIfa, through several chains of narrators.

This theme runs through hundreds of ahAdIs.  Al-Islam is faith in Allah, faith in Muhammad as His Messenger, faith in His Book, in His angels, in the resurrection, in the hereafter, and in the payment of the poor tax (zakAt) and the observance of fast (RamzAn) and pilgrimage.

AUTHOR:  RAM SWARUP