Jibril came in the form of an Arab of the desert and sat down so that his knees touched the knees of the Prophet and said, “O Apostle of God, what is Islam?” He said, “That thou should bear witness that there is no god save God and that I am the Apostle of God; that thou shouldest perform the prayers (_salat_) and bring the poor-rate (_zakat_) and fast in the month of Ramadan and pilgrimage to the House if the way is possible for thee.” He said, “Thou hast spoken truly.” Then he said, “What is Faith (_iman_)?” The Prophet said, “That thou should believe in God and His angels and His books and His messengers and in the Last Day, and that thou should believe in the decreeing (_qadar_) both of good and of evil.” He said, “Thou hast spoken truly.” Then he said, “What is right doing (_ihsan_)?” The Prophet said, “That thou should serve God as though thou sawest Him; for though thou seest Him not, He sees thee.” He said, “Thou hast spoken truly.” Then he said, “When shall be the Last Day (_as-sa‘a_)?” The Prophet said, “The questioned knoweth not more of that than the questioner.” Then he arose and went out. And the Prophet said, “That was Jibril; he came to you to teach you your religion (_din_).”—_Translated from Cureton’s text of ash-Shahrastani, p. 27._ III A SHORT CREED BY AL-ASH‘ARI Our doctrine which we teach and our religion (_diyana_) which we follow consists in clinging fast to the Book of God and the Usage (_sunna_) of His Prophet and to that which is handed down from the Companions, their immediate followers (_tabi‘s_) and from the leaders (_imams_) in tradition—with that we take refuge; and we teach that which Ahmad ibn Hanbal—may God illumine his face, exalt his rank and make great his reward—followed; and we shun that which is opposed to his doctrine. For he is the excellent leader, the perfect chief, through whom God made plain the truth, when error was made manifest, and showed the path and smote down the innovations of the innovators, the deviations of the deviators and the doubts of the doubters. So, the mercy of God be upon him for an appointed leader and an instructed chief, and upon all the leaders of the Muslims.