What is the meaning of the hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), in which he said:
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : He is asking about the meaning of the hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), in which he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2324Sahih (Darussalam) He asks, what is the meaning of this hadith?
The Shaykh : The meaning of this hadith is that the world, no matter how great its pleasure, how pleasant its days, or how attractive it is to its inhabitants, is like a prison for the believer. This is because the believer looks forward to a better, more complete, and higher pleasure. As for the disbeliever, it is his paradise because he enjoys it and forgets the Hereafter. He becomes as Allah the Exalted said about them:[Muhammad 47:12] And when the disbeliever dies, he finds nothing before him but the Fire, may Allah protect us from it, and woe to the people of the Fire. Therefore, despite the bitterness, gloom, sorrows, and worries in the world, it is like a paradise for the disbeliever because he transitions from it to the punishment of the Fire, may Allah protect us from it, so it is like a paradise for him.
It is mentioned regarding Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (may Allah have mercy on him), the author of Fath al-Bari, who was the chief judge of Egypt in his time. He used to pass through the market in a carriage in a procession. One day, a man from among the Jews stopped him and said to him: Your Prophet says:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2324Sahih (Darussalam) How is that, when you are in this luxury and honor? He meant himself, the Jew, who was in the utmost poverty and humiliation. How is that? So Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said to him: "I, although I am in the honor and servants you see, am like a prison compared to the pleasure the believer receives in Paradise. And you, with the poverty and humiliation you are in, are like a paradise compared to what the disbeliever encounters in the Fire." The Jew was delighted by this speech and testified to the truth, saying: I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
The questioner : At the end of this session, we thank Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, who answered your questions for today's episode. We thank you, our noble brothers, for your good follow-up, and we hope to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) that we will meet tomorrow, you and us, in good health and well-being, by the power and strength of Allah the Exalted. Now I leave you in the care and protection of Allah, and may peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The world is a prison for the believer and Paradise for the disbeliever.
الدنيا سجن المؤمن وجنة الكافرThe Shaykh : The meaning of this hadith is that the world, no matter how great its pleasure, how pleasant its days, or how attractive it is to its inhabitants, is like a prison for the believer. This is because the believer looks forward to a better, more complete, and higher pleasure. As for the disbeliever, it is his paradise because he enjoys it and forgets the Hereafter. He becomes as Allah the Exalted said about them:
but those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as grazing livestock eat, and the Fire will be a residence for them.
والذين كفروا يتمتعون ويأكلون كما تأكل الأنعام والنار مثوىً لهمIt is mentioned regarding Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (may Allah have mercy on him), the author of Fath al-Bari, who was the chief judge of Egypt in his time. He used to pass through the market in a carriage in a procession. One day, a man from among the Jews stopped him and said to him: Your Prophet says:
The world is a prison for the believer and Paradise for the disbeliever.
إن الدنيا سجن المؤمن وجنة الكافرThe questioner : At the end of this session, we thank Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, who answered your questions for today's episode. We thank you, our noble brothers, for your good follow-up, and we hope to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) that we will meet tomorrow, you and us, in good health and well-being, by the power and strength of Allah the Exalted. Now I leave you in the care and protection of Allah, and may peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.