Ershad
Junior Member
Assalamu Alaikkum wa rahamatullahi wa barakatuhu,
Original Author: Ibn Rajab al-Ḥanbalī
The Hadeeth
And Ibn ‘Umar used to say:
Explanation of the Hadeeth
…As If You Were a Stranger[1]
Original Author: Ibn Rajab al-Ḥanbalī
The Hadeeth
Ibn ‘Umar (رضي الله عنه) said: Allaah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) took me by my shoulder and said:
"Be in this life as if you were a stranger or a traveler on a path."
And Ibn ‘Umar used to say:
“If you reach the evening, then don’t expect to reach the morning, and if you reach the morning, don’t expect to reach the evening. Take from your health before your sickness, and from your life before your death.”[2]
Explanation of the Hadeeth
This Hadeeth is a foundation for limiting one's hope in this life. A believer shouldn’t consider this life as his homeland or permanent residence, his heart being completely tranquil and at ease within it. Rather, he should stay in it as if he were on a journey, preparing himself to leave. The advice of the prophets and their followers encourage this.
Allaah said, narrating from a believer at the time of Pharaoh that he said:
“Oh my people, surely this worldly life is nothing but a (quick, passing) enjoyment, and certainly, the hereafter - that’s the home that will last forever.” [Soorah Ghafir 40:39]
‘Alee Ibn Abi Taalib used to say, “This life has begun traveling away, and the hereafter has begun traveling forward, and each has its children. So, be one of the children of the hereafter, and don't be one of the children of this life. For today there’s action with no account, and tomorrow there will be account with no action.”
‘Umar Ibn ‘Abdul-‘Azeez said in a sermon, “This life is not your permanent abode. Allaah has prescribed that it will come to an end and He’s prescribed for its people to depart from it. How often has a thriving population been ruined for something so insignificant, and how often has a joyful resident been made to depart something so insignificant? So, prepare well, may Allaah have mercy on you, for the journey with your best preparations. And take provisions, for the best provision is a conscience that’s fearful of Allaah.”
If this life is not a permanent residence or homeland for a believer, then a believer’s condition in it must be either one of two states: 1) either as if he were a stranger residing in a strange land with his main concern to take provisions for his return to his real homeland; or 2) as if he were a traveler, in no way residing in it, but instead spending every night and day going towards his land of residence.
For this, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) advised Ibn ‘Umar to live in this life in one of these two states:
The First State – As a Stranger
In this state, the believer is abandoned as if he were a stranger in this life, appearing to be a resident, yet really in a strange land. His heart’s not attached to this strange land. Instead, his heart is attached to his real homeland that he’s returning to. He’s only staying in this life to fulfill his objective – preparing for his return to his home.
Al-Fudhayl Ibn ‘Iyyaadh said, “A believer in this life is worried and sad. His worry is the objective of preparing himself. And whoever's condition in this life is such, then he has no concern other than taking provisions from what will benefit him during the return to his homeland. He doesn’t compete with the people of the land, among whom he’s merely a stranger, in what they consider honorable. And he doesn’t become worried if he seems insignificant among them.” Al-Hasan (Al-Basree) said, “The believer is like a stranger. He’s neither worried about being insignificant in it (this life), nor does he compete for honor in it. He’s in one state and most other people in another. Whenever Allaah created Aadam (عليه الصلاة والسلام), He made him and his wife live in Paradise. Then he was put out of it, yet promised to return – him and his righteous offspring. So, the believer’s always longing for this, his first homeland..."[3]
The Second State - As a Traveler
In this state, the believer considers himself in this life as a traveler, not permanently residing in it. He’s only moving along at one of the many points of his journey until he ends his travels, which is death. Whoever's condition is like that then his main concern is nothing more than to acquire provisions for his journey. He’s not concerned with an abundance of enjoyment in this life. For this reason, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وآله وصحبه وسلم) advised a group of his Companions that their main objective in this life should be to obtain the provision of a traveler.
One of the Salaf wrote to one of his brothers, “My brother, it appears to you as if you’re a resident. However, you’re really only constantly traveling, and you’re moving quickly. Death is heading towards you, and this life is passing behind you. What’s passed of your life will not return to you (to correct it) on Resurrection Day.”
Al-Fudhayl Ibn ‘Iyyaadh said to a man, “How many (years) have come upon you?” He replied, “Sixty years.” He said, “So then, for sixty years you’ve been heading to your Lord and you’re about to reach Him.” The man said, “To Allaah we belong and to Him we’re returning!” Al-Fudhayl then asked him, “Do you know what that statement means? You’re saying, ‘I belong to Allaah as
a servant and I’m returning to Him.’ So, whoever knows that he belongs to Allaah as a servant and that he’ll return to him, then he should know that he’ll be stopped. And whoever knows that he’s going to be stopped, then he knows he’ll be questioned. And whoever knows that he’ll be questioned, then he should prepare an answer for that questioning.” The man asked, “So what do I do?” He said, “It’s easy.” The man again asked, “So what is it?” Al-Fudhayl replied, “Do good in what remains (of your life), then what has passed should be forgiven. But if you do evil in what remains, then you could be taken to account for what passed and for what remains.”
Some wise people said, “Whoever spends all his days and nights riding on his animal, then he’ll be taken to his destination even if he doesn't move.”
Al-Awzaa'ee wrote to one of his brothers, “You’re surrounded from every side. Know that you are moving forward with each day and night. So, beware of Allaah and of standing between His hands. And your final promise is with Him. Peace.”