37/3. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 4113 — Prison of the Believer
The likeness of this world
Hadith: The World Is a Prison for the Believer
Sunan Ibn Majah : 4113
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 4113
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَرْوَانَ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ الْعُثْمَانِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " الدُّنْيَا سِجْنُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَجَنَّةُ الْكَافِرِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “This world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 4113In-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 14English translation : Vol. 5, Book 37, Hadith 4113
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4113
This short Hadith gives a sharp contrast. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that this world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever. The wording points to how the believer sees worldly life. A prison limits a person. In this life, the believer is not free to follow every desire without care. He lives with commands, limits, worship, patience, and hope in the Hereafter. The disbeliever, in this wording, is described as having paradise in this world compared with what is beyond it. The Hadith does not list details of reward or punishment here. It simply reminds the believer not to expect dunya to feel like the final place of ease.
What we learn from this hadith
- The believer’s life in dunya includes limits and restraint.
- This world is not presented as the believer’s final comfort.
- The Hadith helps explain why faith may involve patience.
- Worldly ease should not be confused with lasting success.
