This world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever

Islam > Hadiths > Virtues and manners > Virtues and Manners

Hadith narrated by Narrated by Muslim

Authenticity grade : Authentic

Hadith text: This world is a prison for the believer and a paradise…

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضيَ اللهُ عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الدُّنْيَا سِجْنُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَجَنَّةُ الْكَافِرِ».

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "This world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever."

Explanation of the hadith: This world is a prison for the believer and a paradise…

Lessons: This world is a prison for the believer and a paradise…

• An-Nawawi said: Every believer is imprisoned and restrained in this world from forbidden and disliked desires and is obligated to perform difficult acts of obedience. When he dies, he is relieved of all that and transitions to what Allah Almighty has prepared for him-everlasting bliss and complete comfort, free from any deficiency. As for the disbeliever, whatever pleasure he had in this world was limited and tainted with disturbances. When he dies, he transitions to eternal punishment and everlasting misery.
• As-Sindi said: His statement "a prison for the believer" means that even if the believer is living in comfort, Paradise is better for him than this world. And "a paradise for the disbeliever" means that even if he is in hardship, Hellfire is worse for him than this world.
• The insignificance of worldly life in the sight of Allah Almighty.
• The worldly life is a place of trial and test for the people of faith.
• The disbeliever hastened his paradise in this worldly life, and was punished by being deprived of the Paradise and the bliss of the Hereafter.

Categories : Asceticism and Piety · Condemning Love of the World