Sahih Muslim 8a

Abu Khaythama, Zuhayr ibn Harb, narrated to me; Waki' narrated to us, from Kahmas, from Abdullah ibn Buraydah, from Yahya ibn Ya'mur. H. Ubaydullah ibn Mu'adh al-Anbari narrated to us—and this is his account—my father narrated to us; Kahmas narrated to us, from Ibn Buraydah, from Yahya ibn Ya'mur, who said: The first person to speak about the Divine Decree in Basra was Ma'bad al-Juhani. Humayd ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Himyari and I set out, either as pilgrims performing Hajj or as people performing 'Umrah. We said, ‘If only we could meet one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), so that we could ask him about what these people say concerning the Divine Decree.’ Abdullah ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab happened to come our way as he was entering the mosque. My companion and I flanked him, one of us on his right and the other on his left. I thought my companion would leave the speaking to me, so I said, ‘Abu Abd al-Rahman, people have appeared among us who recite the Qur'an and seek knowledge’—and he mentioned something of their situation—‘and they claim that there is no Divine Decree and that the matter is without prior decree.’ He said, ‘When you meet those people, tell them that I have nothing to do with them and that they have nothing to do with me. By Him by whom Abdullah ibn Umar swears, if one of them had an amount of gold like Mount Uhud and spent it, Allah would not accept it from him until he believed in the Divine Decree.’ Then he said: My father, Umar ibn al-Khattab, told me: One day, while we were with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), a man appeared before us, wearing intensely white garments and having intensely black hair. No sign of travel could be seen on him, and none of us knew him. He sat down close to the Prophet, rested his knees against the Prophet's knees, placed his palms on his thighs, and said, ‘O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.’ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘Islam is that you bear witness that there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; establish the prayer, give the zakat, fast Ramadan, and make the Pilgrimage to the House if you are able to find a way to it.’ He said, ‘You have spoken truthfully.’ We were astonished at him: he asked him and then affirmed his truthfulness. He said, ‘Tell me about faith.’ He replied, ‘That you believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, the Last Day, and that you believe in the Divine Decree, its good and its evil.’ He said, ‘You have spoken truthfully.’ He said, ‘Tell me about ihsan.’ He replied, ‘That you worship Allah as though you see Him; for if you do not see Him, He sees you.’ He said, ‘Tell me about the Hour.’ He replied, ‘The one who is asked about it knows no more than the one who asks.’ He said, ‘Tell me about its signs.’ He replied, ‘That a slave woman give birth to her mistress, and that you see barefoot, unclothed, destitute shepherds of sheep competing with one another in building.’ Then he departed. I remained for a while, then he said to me, ‘O Umar, do you know who the questioner was?’ I said, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘That was Gabriel. He came to you to teach you your religion.’