What is Islam?

Before developing in detail what is Islam in it is definition, here is its composition:

The following text has been related to us through the authentic collection (Sahih) of the traditional information (al-Khabar al-Ahadith) relater, the Imam (Ibn al-Hajjaj) Muslim, chapter 5, number 60, and has been narrated by the companion and third Caliph of the Islamic history: `Umar Ibn al-Khattab.

This traditional information (Hadith) is known as “The Hadith of Gabriel (Jibril)”:

“While we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless with him and grant him peace, one day a man came up to us whose clothes were extremely white, whose hair was extremely black, upon whom traces of travelling could not be seen, and whom none of us knew, until he sat down close to the Prophet, may Allah bless with him and grant him peace, so that he rested his knees upon his knees and placed his two hands upon his thighs.

- He said: “Muhammad, tell me about Islam.”
- The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless with him and grant him peace, said: “Islam is that you witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and you establish the prayer, and you give the Zakat, and you fast Ramadan, and you perform the hajj of the House if you are able to take a way to it.”
- He said: “You have told the truth”

And we were amazed at him asking him and [then] telling him that he told the truth.

- He said: “Tell me about Iman.”
- The Prophet answered: “That you affirm Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and that you affirm the Decree, the good of it and the bad of it.”
- He said: “You have told the truth.” He said: “Tell me about Ihsan.”
- The Prophet answered: “That you worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you don't see Him then truly He sees you.”
- He said: “Tell me about the Hour.”
- The Prophet answered: “The one asked about it knows no more than the one asking.”
- He said: “Then tell me about its tokens.”
- The Prophet answered: “That the female slave should give birth to her mistress, and you see poor, naked, barefoot shepherds of sheep and goats competing in making tall buildings.”

He went away, and I remained some time.

- Then the Prophet asked: “`Umar, do you know who the questioner was?”
- I said: “Allah and His Messenger know best.”
- He answered: “He was Jibril who came to you to teach you your religion.”.”

Here is what is Islam. As it was mentioned, this religion is composed of 3 things that are: the Islam (the submission, the application, the sacred law), the Iman (Faith, Belief), and the Ihsan (spirituality, excellence).