Were the hadiths of 5 pillars and jibreel meccan or medinan?

In a Nutshell It's widely agreed that the core beliefs and actions mentioned in the foundational hadiths of the Five Pillars and the questioning by the Angel Jibreel (as) occurred during the Meccan period of Islam. Though some components of these pillars saw further elaboration and detailed rulings in the Medinan era, their fundamentals were revealed early on. Introduction Both the hadith narrating the fundamental elements of Islam (Five Pillars) and the hadith where the Angel Jibreel (as) appears in human form to question the Prophet (pbuh) about Islam, Iman, and Ihsan are foundational in shaping Muslim belief and practice. These core principles were communicated early in the Prophet's (pbuh) mission, providing a framework for the growing Muslim community before specific legal details in later revelations. Evidences 1. Hadith References The Hadith of the Five Pillars: Versions can be found in numerous collections including Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. The phrasing consistently points to early origins – simple concepts, the initial emphasis on fundamental beliefs, and no detailed mention of later legislation. The Hadith of Jibreel: Versions exist in many collections. Its context – teaching new Muslims core beliefs to an audience including companions like Umar (ra) implies the Meccan period, where establishing base tenets of faith was critical. 2. Nature of Meccan Revelations Central focus on Tawhid (oneness of God): Both hadiths center on a declaration of belief, fitting squarely within a Meccan pattern of prioritizing core theological truths as opposed to detailed legal codes. Establishment of foundational practices: Though specifics might evolve, the hadiths introduce elements like prayer, fasting, and giving charity. This reinforces that these devotional pillars of Islam had early roots. Addressing immediate community needs: The questions posed in the Jibreel hadith mirror what newly-introduced faiths focus on: belief clarity, spiritual excellence, and the time horizon believers should orient themselves towards. Hadith of 5 Pillars and Jibreel - Meccan or Medinan? While I couldn't find sources stating an explicit Medinan timeframe for these narrations, several factors support the view held by numerous scholars that they likely originate from the Medinan period, with the Hadith of Jibreel possibly towards the later side of that era. Let's examine why: Islam as a Complete Deen: Your observation is key: Islam as a comprehensive system of life and community truly gained its form in Medina. Although its foundational tenets originated in Mecca, the hadiths in question describe a developed faith with all its pillars outlined. Jibreel's (as) Role as Teacher: His mission in the hadith aligns with an established Muslim community needing clarity on faith details, not initial conversion as in the Meccan setting. His goal becomes summary and consolidation rather than primary introduction of core concepts. Evolution of the Pillars: While prayer, fasting, and charity had Meccan precursors, legislating their obligatory nature or detailed collective practice came later. In Medina, Hajj becomes obligatory around years 7-9AH, and zakat and sawm in year 2AH. The hadiths depict pillars operating in this more mature legal framework. Historical Reality: Your note about gatherings after Umar's (ra) conversion is correct. This level of openness in the Hadith of Jibreel aligns with the security Muslims experienced in Medina, further pointing away from the often secretive reality of the Meccan era. There ae multiple hadiths which include war which suggests Medinah. In the two sahih books there is a narration from Ibn Abbas (ra) that states: The Prophet(saw) said to the deputation from Abd al-Qays, “I order you to do four things: have iman in Allah, and do you know what iman in Allah is? [It is] witnessing that there is no god but Allah, establishing the prayer, producing the zakat, fasting Ramadan, and giving the fifth of the booty.” Abdullah ibn Umar, narrator of the 5 pillars hadith, was born 610AD, so would probably have heard this hadith in Medinah. Misconceptions "All specific rulings appeared in Madinah": While many detailed laws did, this oversimplifies. Medinan revelation deepened earlier pillars but didn't invent them from scratch. "These events must be dated precisely": The focus isn't on pinpointing the exact moment, but recognizing the core tenets arose from a Meccan framework – one driven by establishing firm belief amidst adversity. "If there were Meccan versions, Medinan ones replaced them": Wrong. Medinan teachings often added specificity not negation. For example, the basic obligation of Hajj is rooted in the Meccan period, while precise rulings about rites developed later.