The world is a prison for the believer.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “The world is a prison for the believer, and a paradise for the disbeliever.” (Sahih Muslim)

This hadith may seem painful at first glance, especially for those who consider worldly pleasures and comforts as the measure of success, and its meaning is difficult to understand. But the horizon of the afterlife-oriented consciousness that is contained in this short message can only be understood by a heart that does not consider the world as its final destination.

In the life of a believer, the world is a test, a temporary period, where he has to give an account for every step he takes. Every day, every moment of his life is like an exam paper, where his faith, patience, sincerity, self-restraint, accountability and self-control are constantly tested. In this world, he wants a lot but does not get it, knows a lot but does not say it, endures a lot of hardship but does not complain about others. He knows that his main reward is not any comfort here, but that eternal life, where there is no death, no fatigue, and no pain.

In this hadith, the word ‘prison’ is used as a metaphor. Just as a prisoner cannot move freely, so a believer restrains himself from many things due to his conscience, Sharia and fear of Allah. He cannot eat any food, cannot say any word, cannot do any work, because he constantly carries the fear of accountability in the Hereafter. He even controls his gaze so that it does not fall in the forbidden direction, his hands and feet are not used in the way of injustice, and his wealth is not spent in forbidden ways. This control is in a sense ‘prison’—but it is a glorious, hopeful prison, the reward of which is freedom in the Hereafter and eternal peace.

On the other hand, for a kafir—one who has denied Allah or disobeyed His laws—this world is paradise. He gets what he wants here, what he says is done, what he eats is not accounted for, he has no control over his life. The pleasures and luxuries of the world, wealth, prestige, fame—everything is in his hands. But this ‘paradise’ is only external, hidden inside which is an extreme disappointment of the hereafter. When he wakes up on the Day of Judgment, he will understand—he had no preparation, he only enjoyed, but did not express gratitude; he enjoyed, but did not think of accountability.

This hadith explains the reality of our world. The believer will suffer, be oppressed, may be poor, may have no name, no glory, no external honor; but in his heart there is the fear of Allah, the hope of Paradise, and unwavering love for Him. If there is any crying in his world, he knows—this crying will one day turn into laughter. And if the infidel laughs despite being a thousand times happy, that laughter will one day turn into roaring, cursing, and endless disappointment.

If we look at the lives of the companions, we can also understand the reality of this hadith. Bilal (radiyallahu anhu) was lying under a stone in the scorching sun, but his mouth only uttered the sound of “Ahad, Ahad”. He did not see any comfort of this world, but he dedicated himself to the salvation of the Hereafter. He was in prison, but his heart was filled with the radiance of salvation. This sacrifice of his made him a sure resident of Paradise.

This hadith tells us that if a believer faces any hardship, lack, deprivation or pain in this world, he should not despair. He should consider it as a stage of his salvation in the Hereafter, and should remember that Allah sees everything for him, and has prepared an incomparable reward in Paradise for every hardship he endures. His every tear, every patience, every restraint is reserved for Allah.

Again, those who consider worldly wealth, fame, politics or luxury as the ultimate goal of life, should think about it – what is there for them at the end of all this? If they spend this life without faith and good deeds, then this world may be their only ‘paradise’. But the lifespan of that paradise is fleeting, limited, fragile, and incapable of providing any lasting peace.

This hadith therefore teaches us a new perspective – we should not consider the hardships of this world as the final danger, but rather as part of a test and endure them patiently. We should know that nothing in this world is permanent, and this world is only a preparatory stage for a powerful eternal life.