Living Like a Stranger

Among the most profound pieces of advice the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ever gave regarding this world is narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar (رضي الله عنه).

He relates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gently held him by the shoulder and said:

"Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a traveler passing by."

This simple sentence contains an entire philosophy of life.

Imagine arriving in a foreign country where you know you will stay for only a few days. You may appreciate the scenery, benefit from its facilities, and enjoy its hospitality, but you never mistake it for home. You do not spend your life decorating a hotel room that you will soon leave. You do not become devastated if you must depart, because you always knew your stay was temporary.

The Prophet ﷺ teaches that this is precisely how a believer should view the dunya.

We are travelers.

Not permanent residents.

Our real homeland is not this world.

It is the Hereafter.

This life is only a station along the journey.

The Qur'an repeatedly reminds us that Allah created death and life for one purpose:

"He who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deeds." (Qur'an 67:2)

Notice that Allah did not say He created life merely for enjoyment or comfort.

Life itself is an examination.

Every blessing is a question.

Every hardship is another question.

Sometimes Allah tests His servants by giving abundantly.

Will they remain grateful?

Will they remember the One who gave?

Will they spend their wealth in His cause?

At other times, Allah tests by withholding.

Will they remain patient?

Will they continue trusting Him?

Will they refrain from complaint?

Both abundance and deprivation are examinations.

Neither proves Allah's pleasure or displeasure by itself.

The believer learns to see beyond circumstances and focus instead on his response to them.

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The World Is a Rest Stop, Not the Destination

Another beautiful hadith illustrates this reality with unforgettable imagery.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"What have I to do with this world? My example in relation to this world is like that of a traveler who rests under the shade of a tree for a short while, then rises and continues his journey."

Few metaphors describe worldly life more powerfully.

Picture a traveler crossing a vast desert beneath the blazing sun.

He finds the shade of a single tree.

He rests there briefly.

Perhaps he eats.

Perhaps he drinks.

Perhaps he regains his strength.

But once refreshed, he continues toward his destination.

He does not begin constructing a permanent house beneath that tree.

He does not imagine that the shade is his final home.

He understands its purpose.

It is temporary.

This is exactly how Islam teaches us to view worldly life.

Allah created the world as a place of benefit—not permanent residence.

Its comforts are real.

Its blessings are real.

Its beauty is real.

But they were never meant to become the object of our deepest love.

Everything here eventually fades.

Every possession eventually changes hands.

Every relationship eventually parts.

Every palace eventually becomes ruins.

Only the deeds performed sincerely for Allah accompany us beyond the grave.

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Enjoy the Blessings—But Never Worship Them

Islam is often misunderstood as a religion that condemns worldly enjoyment.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Allah created beautiful clothing.

He created delicious food.

He created families, homes, gardens, commerce, art, and the countless blessings that enrich human life.

The Qur'an asks:

"Say: Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has produced for His servants and the good things of provision?" (Qur'an 7:32)

The issue, therefore, is not enjoyment.

The issue is attachment.

A believer may own wealth without allowing wealth to own him.

He may appreciate beauty without becoming enslaved by vanity.

He may pursue success without sacrificing his integrity.

He may live comfortably without forgetting the One who granted every comfort.

The heart must remain attached to Allah even while the hands engage with the world.

That delicate balance is one of the greatest achievements of faith.

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The World Came to the Prophet ﷺ in the Form of Beauty

Among the narrations that vividly illustrate the Prophet's relationship with the dunya is one reported by some scholars in which a Companion observed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in an unusual state.

It appeared as though he was pushing something away with both hands.

When the moment passed, the Companion asked what had happened.

The Prophet ﷺ explained that the world had been presented before him in the form of a beautiful woman, and he kept pushing it away, saying in essence:

"What have I to do with you?"

Whether understood literally or as a visionary representation, the lesson is profound.

The dunya rarely approaches us as something ugly.

Temptation almost always arrives beautifully dressed.

Sin often appears attractive before it reveals its consequences.

Distractions present themselves as opportunities.

Excess disguises itself as comfort.

Pride disguises itself as confidence.

Greed disguises itself as ambition.

That is why the Qur'an repeatedly reminds us that worldly life has been adorned.

The danger lies not in seeing beauty but in forgetting the One who created it.

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One of the Highest Forms of Character

The Prophet ﷺ then gave another piece of advice that is perhaps even more practical.

He said:

"Renounce what people possess, and people will love you."

This teaching strikes directly at one of the most common diseases of the human heart: envy.

Much of modern life is built upon comparison.

Someone buys a larger house.

Someone receives a promotion.

Someone becomes famous.

Someone drives a more expensive car.

Someone enjoys greater success.

Social media magnifies this tendency until people spend their lives measuring themselves against carefully curated images of others.

The result is endless dissatisfaction.

Islam offers liberation from this cycle.

The believer learns to celebrate the blessings of others without secretly wishing they would disappear.

He understands that every provision comes from Allah.

What Allah grants another person does not diminish what He may grant you.

The Qur'an reminds us:

"Do not wish for that by which Allah has favored some of you over others." (Qur'an 4:32)

This does not prohibit healthy ambition.

Rather, it purifies ambition from jealousy.

A believer may work hard.

He may seek excellence.

He may ask Allah for increase.

But he does not resent another person's success.

Nor does he define his own worth by comparing himself with others.

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Freedom Begins When Envy Ends

One of the greatest blessings Allah can grant a servant is contentment.

Contentment does not mean laziness.

Nor does it mean abandoning personal growth.

It means accepting Allah's decree while striving lawfully for improvement.

When envy disappears, something remarkable happens.

Relationships become sincere.

Friendships become genuine.

People begin loving one another for who they are rather than what they own.

No one fears being valued merely for wealth or status.

No one suspects hidden motives.

The Prophet ﷺ understood human psychology perfectly.

When people realize you do not covet what they possess, they naturally trust you.

Your friendship becomes genuine.

Your intentions become clear.

Love grows where envy disappears.

This is why the Prophet ﷺ connected the love of Allah with detachment from the dunya, and the love of people with freedom from envy.

The two are deeply connected.

A heart filled with worldly obsession rarely finds peace.

A heart content with Allah's decree experiences a freedom that wealth alone can never purchase.

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The True Wealth of the Believer

Islam does not measure wealth by possessions.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Richness is not having many possessions. Rather, true richness is the richness of the soul."

How many people possess millions yet live in constant anxiety?

How many enjoy fame yet remain profoundly lonely?

How many acquire everything they once dreamed of, only to discover that their hearts are still empty?

Material abundance cannot satisfy spiritual hunger.

The heart was created for something greater than consumption.

It was created to know Allah.

Every worldly blessing eventually loses its novelty.

Every pleasure fades with repetition.

Only closeness to Allah continues increasing in sweetness.

That is why those who know Him most deeply often appear outwardly simple yet inwardly fulfilled.

Their treasure is not measured by what they own.

It is measured by what fills their hearts.