The Five Pillars of Islam his main informant. In 751 the Abbasids and the Tang dynasty intervened in a local power struggle at Talas (Dzambul, Kazakstan), and Du Huan was taken prisoner by the Abbasid army. Du You's encyclope- dia entry combines stereotypes about the immense ne of the most important Islamic texts, the Hadith of Gabriel, is associated with the second caliph, Umar, who encounter he had witnessed between the prophet Muhammad and the angel Gabriel. The Hadith of Gabriel summarizes the core beliefs of Islam as they were understood in Muhammad's lifetime. The Five Pillars proved crucial to the expansion of Islam because these concise teachings encapsulated its most important practices. One did not have to lean Arabic or memorize the entire Quran to be a Muslim; nor did one require access to a mosque or described an wealth of the Islamic world with information about Muslim practice. Interestingly, without mentioning the Five Pillars by name, he touches on several. Sources: Hadith of Gabriel as translated in Vincent J. Cornell, "Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge: The Relationship Between Faith and Practice in Iskam," in The Oxford History of Islam, ed. John L. Esposito (New York: Onford Uriversity Press, 1999), pp. 75-76 (brackets removed to enhance readabil- ityk Hyunhee Park, "The Delineation of a Coastline: The Growth of Mutual Geographic Knowledge in China and the Islamic World from 750 to 1500," Yale Ph.D. 2008, Pp. 46 48, translation of Du You, Tongdian 193: 5279. Reprinted by permision. to educated teachers. The second passage, from a Chinese book enti- tled The Encyclopedic History of Institutions, completed in 801 by the author Du You (735-812), shows how quickly the news of Muhammad's teachings spread throughout Eurasia. Du You's cousin Du Huan was From the Hadith of Gabrlel Umar ibn al-Khattab reported: One day, while we were sitting with the Messenger of God (may God bless and preserve him), there came upon us a man whose clothes wereexceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black. No dust of travel could be seen upon him, and none of us knew him. He sat down in front of the Prophet (may God bless and preserve him), rested his knees against the Prophet's knees and placed his palms on the Prophet's thighs. "Oh Muhammad, tell me about Islam," he sald. The Messenger of God (may God bless and preserve him) replied: "Islam means to bear witness that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to maintain the required prayers, to pay the poor- tax, to fast in the month of Ramadan, and to perform the pilgrimage to the House of God at Mecca if you are able to do so." "You are correct," the man said. We were amazed at his questioning of the Prophet and then saying that the Prophet had answered correctly. Then he said, "Tell me about faith." The Prophet said: "It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and to belleve in Allah's determi- nation of affalrs, whether good comes of It or bad." "You are correct," he said. "Now tell me about virtue [ihsan]." The Prophet said: "It is to worship Allah as if you see Him; for if you do not see Him, surely He sees you." Then the man left. I remained for a while, and the Prophet said to me: "Oh, Umar, do you know who the questioner was?" "Allah and His Messenger know best," I replied. He sald: "It was the angel Gabriel, who came to you to teach you your religion." From Du You's The Encyclopedic History of Institutions The king of Dashi [the Arabs] is called Mumen [Commander of the Falthful], and he has made this place his capital. The gentle- men and women of this place are tall and well-built. They wear fine and clean garments, and their manners are gentle and elegant. When women go outdoors, they must cover up their faces with vells. Five times a day all the people, whether humble or noble, pray to Heaven. They practice purity by fasting, and they consider killing animals merit-worthy. They wear silver belts decorated with silver knives. They prohibit wine and music. When they quarrel, they do not come to blows. There is also a prayer hall that holds tens of thousands. Every seven days the king at- tends the prayers, mounts a high seat and expounds the religious law to the people, saying: "Man's life is very hard; the way of Heaven is not easy. If you commit one of the following crimes-lewdness, kidnapping, rob- bery, mean actions, slander, self-gratification at the expense of others, cheating the poor and oppressing the humble-your sins are among the most heinous. Those who are killed in battle by the enemy will be rebon in Heaven; those who kill the enemy will enjoy unlimited good fortune (on Earth)." A large territory came under the king's rule, and the number of those who follow him Is Increasing incessantly. The law is lenlent, and funerals are frugal. Within the city walls, in the villages, all of the earth's products are here. Nothing is lacking. It is the hub of the four quarters. Thousands of varleties of merchandise have been brought here in immense quantitles and are sold at very low prices. Silk and em- broiderles, pearls and shells are piled up in the markets. Camels and horses, donkeys and mules jam the streets and alleys. Dwell- ing houses and other buildings are carved of stone-honey [earth bricks) and resemble Chinese carrlages. On each festival, the nobles are presented with glass work, por- celain, brass, bottles and jugs in enormous quantities.... Now the Arabs have destroyed and swal- lowed forty to fifty states, all of which are sub- ject to them. They divide their soldiers into many places to protect them, and their ter- ritory extends all the way to the western sea.