Be in this world as if you are a stranger or a wayfarer

Explanation

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) mentioned that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) took him by the shoulder—the part that joins the arm with the shoulder—and said to him, Be in this world as if you are a stranger who arrived at a country where he has no house to shelter him and no one to keep his accompany. He is away from family, children, and relationships that are the cause behind one's distraction from the Creator. Rather, be more than a stranger, i.e., a wayfarer who passes by the way seeking his homeland. This is because the stranger may live in a foreign land and reside therein, unlike the wayfarer who passes by swiftly without stopping and whose main concern is to reach his homeland. Just as a traveler needs nothing beyond what helps him reach his destination, a believer needs nothing in this world beyond what helps him reach his destination in the Hereafter. Ibn ‘Umar acted upon this advice, and he used to say: If you reach the morning, do not wait for the evening; and if you reach the evening, do not wait for the morning, and count yourself among the grave dwellers. Given the fact that health and sickness are inevitable in one's life, then hasten to obedience when you are in good health before getting sick, and take advantage of your health in performing righteous acts before being prevented by sickness. Take advantage of your life in this world and do everything that could benefit you after your death.

Benefits

• A teacher may put his hand on his student's shoulder as he instructs him as an expression of cordiality and to attract his attention.
• One may offer advice and guidance to those who do not ask for it.
• The Prophet's excellent approach in teaching by making convincing comparisons, as he said: "Be in this world as if you are a stranger or a wayfarer."
• People vary in their advance towards the Hereafter, bearing in mind that the status of the wayfarer is higher than that of the stranger in terms of asceticism.
• One should have simple ambitions in this world and should be prepared for death.
• The Hadīth does not denote the renunciation of sustenance or the prohibition of worldly pleasures; rather, it denotes asceticism in such things and consuming less thereof.
• Hastening to righteous deeds before one is unable to perform them due to sickness or death.
• The merit of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) as he was influenced by this advice from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him).
• Paradise is the believer's homeland; hence, he is a stranger in this world and a traveler to the Hereafter. He does not allow his heart to be attached to anything of this foreign land; rather, his heart is attached to his homeland, to which he will return. His stay in this world is to fulfill his needs and get prepared to return to his homeland.

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