Source: Sharḥ Kitāb al-Jāmiʿ from Bulūgh al-Marām by Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī
Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Salām bin Muḥammad Bhaṭwī
عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: اخذ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم بمنكبي فقال:
كن فى الدنيا كانك غريب او عابر سبيل
وكان ابن عمر يقول: إذا امسيت فلا تنتظر الصباح وإذا اصبحت فلا تنتظر المساء وخذ من صحتك لسقمك ومن حياتك لموتك.
"Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ held my shoulder and said:
Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a traveler.
And Ibn ʿUmar used to say:
When evening comes, do not expect to reach the morning,
and when morning comes, do not expect to reach the evening.
Take from your health for your sickness, and from your life for your death."
Narrated by al-Bukhārī.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructs the believer to live in this world as:
Both metaphors remind the believer that this worldly life is not a permanent abode, and our true homeland is the Hereafter.
Strangers do not become attached. They know they’re just passing through, and travelers carry only what is necessary, not the burdens of luxury or worldly preoccupations.
➤ The believer is urged to avoid material excess and to limit desires. Just like a traveler does not furnish a hotel room, a believer should not overly invest in worldly matters.
The Prophet’s use of "أو" (or) could also imply emphasis:
Live like a stranger — or rather, better yet — live like a traveler.
"When you reach the evening, do not expect to reach the morning..."
This powerful advice by Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) is a reminder of:
When one lives each moment expecting that it could be their last, they become more sincere, cautious, and productive in pleasing Allah ﷻ.
"Take from your health for your illness, and from your life for your death."
This instruction emphasizes the necessity to capitalize on youth, health, and vitality before old age and weakness overtake a person.
Many delay good deeds, assuming there will always be time. But sickness and death often come without warning. Thus, one must prepare spiritually and practically in advance.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ
[Āl ʿImrān 3:102]
"O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and do not die except in a state of Islam."
This verse echoes the prophetic teaching — live in such a way that death will not catch you unprepared.
✔ A believer must never settle permanently in this world
✔ Adopt the mindset of a traveler — carrying only what is needed for the journey to the Hereafter
✔ Avoid delaying good deeds; prepare for death at all times
✔ Value health and life as limited resources that must be invested wisely in eternal salvation
Translation: Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbd al-Salām bin Muḥammad Bhaṭwī
❖ Ḥadīth
عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: اخذ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم بمنكبي فقال:
كن فى الدنيا كانك غريب او عابر سبيل
وكان ابن عمر يقول: إذا امسيت فلا تنتظر الصباح وإذا اصبحت فلا تنتظر المساء وخذ من صحتك لسقمك ومن حياتك لموتك.
"Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ held my shoulder and said:
Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a traveler.
And Ibn ʿUmar used to say:
When evening comes, do not expect to reach the morning,
and when morning comes, do not expect to reach the evening.
Take from your health for your sickness, and from your life for your death."
Narrated by al-Bukhārī.
Referencing
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6416
- Refer also: Tuḥfat al-Ashrāf [5/481, 6/28]
✿ Key Points and Reflections
➊ Live as a Stranger or a Wayfarer
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructs the believer to live in this world as:
- A stranger (غريب): Someone who may reside temporarily but never feels at home.
- A traveler (عابر سبيل): One who simply passes through without stopping for long.
Both metaphors remind the believer that this worldly life is not a permanent abode, and our true homeland is the Hereafter.
Strangers do not become attached. They know they’re just passing through, and travelers carry only what is necessary, not the burdens of luxury or worldly preoccupations.
➋ Avoid Deep Attachment to Worldly Life
➤ The believer is urged to avoid material excess and to limit desires. Just like a traveler does not furnish a hotel room, a believer should not overly invest in worldly matters.
The Prophet’s use of "أو" (or) could also imply emphasis:
Live like a stranger — or rather, better yet — live like a traveler.
➌ Ibn ʿUmar’s Timeless Wisdom
"When you reach the evening, do not expect to reach the morning..."
This powerful advice by Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) is a reminder of:
- The uncertainty of life
- The danger of false hopes and long-term ambitions
- The urgency of repentance and righteous deeds
When one lives each moment expecting that it could be their last, they become more sincere, cautious, and productive in pleasing Allah ﷻ.
➍ Prepare for Sickness and Death
"Take from your health for your illness, and from your life for your death."
This instruction emphasizes the necessity to capitalize on youth, health, and vitality before old age and weakness overtake a person.
Many delay good deeds, assuming there will always be time. But sickness and death often come without warning. Thus, one must prepare spiritually and practically in advance.❖ Qur’anic Support
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ
[Āl ʿImrān 3:102]
"O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and do not die except in a state of Islam."
This verse echoes the prophetic teaching — live in such a way that death will not catch you unprepared.
❖ Summary
✔ A believer must never settle permanently in this world
✔ Adopt the mindset of a traveler — carrying only what is needed for the journey to the Hereafter
✔ Avoid delaying good deeds; prepare for death at all times
✔ Value health and life as limited resources that must be invested wisely in eternal salvation
