The Book of Zuhd and Softening of Hearts - Sahih Muslim 2956

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This profound hadith from Sahih Muslim reveals a fundamental spiritual reality regarding the believer's relationship with this temporal world.

The World as a Prison for the Believer

The believer experiences this world as a prison because their ultimate longing is for the eternal abode of Paradise. They recognize the transient nature of worldly pleasures and restrain their desires in obedience to Allah's commands.

The believer's soul yearns for its original home in the Divine Presence, making earthly existence feel constraining. Every trial becomes a test of faith, and every comfort is viewed with caution lest it distract from spiritual pursuits.

The World as Paradise for the Disbeliever

For the disbeliever, this world represents their ultimate paradise since they do not believe in the Hereafter. They pursue worldly pleasures without spiritual restraint, considering material success as the highest achievement.

Their attachment to temporal delights blinds them to eternal realities. What appears as freedom is actually the greatest confinement, for they are imprisoned by their own desires and limited to this fleeting existence.

Spiritual Wisdom and Practical Application

This teaching encourages believers to maintain proper perspective - using the world as a means to attain the Hereafter rather than as an end in itself. It cultivates contentment with little and detachment from excessive worldly attachments.

The believer finds comfort in knowing that current restrictions and hardships are temporary, while the disbeliever's apparent freedom will ultimately lead to eternal confinement in the Hereafter.