Explaining the Reality of Islam, with an Explanation of the Famous Hadith of Jibril Concerning Islam, Faith, and Excellence in Worship

The Shaykh : Before we move on to a third hadith—which is roughly the same in meaning as the previous two—I must pause for a moment on the word "Islam" in the first hadith: , and in the second hadith: .
"Aslama" means "he was guided to Islam." In this hadith, there is a clear indication that if a person combines these two blessings—the spiritual, metaphysical blessing of being guided to Islam, and the other, material blessing by which he lives for Islam—then blessed is that person who was guided to Islam and provided with a sufficient livelihood, or who was content with what Allah (Mighty and Majestic) provided for him.
I see that we must pause on the words "Islam" and "Aslama." Many people today who claim to belong to Islam and are called Muslims—many of them do not know the reality of their Islam even today. If the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) congratulates you , this means he is pointing out that he has been guided to the greatest spiritual, metaphysical blessing. So what is this Islam?
There is no harm in me narrating to you a hadith that is known to some of you, and unknown to others, or at least not frequently discussed among you. It contains a lesson, a warning, and an explanation of what we are discussing, which is Islam. This hadith is known among the scholars of hadith as the Hadith of Jibril (peace be upon him), narrated by Imam Muslim in his Sahih from the hadith of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and his father, whom he narrated from, saying: "Ibn 'Umar told me, saying: 'Umar told me—meaning his father—that he was in a gathering with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when a man came, with very white clothes, very black hair, no trace of travel on him, and none of us recognized him. He sat down with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), leaning his knees against his knees, and placing his hands on his thighs. Then he said: 'O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.' He said: . The questioner said: 'You have spoken the truth.' 'Umar said: 'We were amazed that he asked him and then confirmed his answer!' He said: 'Then tell me about faith.' He said: . He said: 'You have spoken the truth.' He said: 'We were amazed that he asked him and then confirmed his answer!' He said: 'Then tell me about excellence in worship.' He said: . He said: 'Then tell me about the Hour.' He said: . He said: 'Then tell me about its signs.' He said: . 'Umar said: 'Then we remained for a while—meaning a long, extended period, and in another narration: three days—then he said (peace be upon him): . They said: 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' He said (peace be upon him): ."
Commenting on this hadith would require a long discussion, as it is very important. However, we are not here for that purpose; rather, we cited it for two reasons: first, to remind you of it, and second, to link the answer to the first question to what is mentioned in this hadith regarding one who submitted to Islam and one who was guided to Islam. Jibril (peace be upon him), appearing in the form of a human, came to the gathering of the Messenger (peace be upon him). It appears that there was some silence and lack of initiative in seeking knowledge in the gathering. This is because his saying (peace be upon him) at the end of the hadith in the previous narration: , came in another narration in Sahih Muslim—also—but from the narration of Abu Hurayrah, not 'Umar. He said: .
The point here is: ; that is, that you learn . Since you were silent and quiet and did not ask, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) sent His Messenger Jibril (peace be upon him) to you to teach you through the method of question and answer. This authentic hadith is among many proofs that one of the methods of teaching knowledge in Islam is the method of question and answer. It is not, as many people today who have no knowledge of Islam imagine, that this method of question and answer is a foreign European method. Rather, it is an Islamic method legislated by Allah (Mighty and Majestic) through Jibril (peace be upon him) when He sent him to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). He sat before him like a student before a teacher, pressing his knees against his knees, and placing his hands on the Prophet's thighs, on the Prophet's knees, showing to the people present his interest in knowledge and his need for it. But he wanted to teach those who had not asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about the knowledge they needed.