In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Hadith ~ The believer's prison

Abu Hurairah (MAPH) reported: the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: "The world is the believer's prison and the infidel's Jannah". (Muslim)

Abdullah bin Umar (MAPH) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) took hold of my shoulders and said: "Be in the world like a stranger or a wayfarer".

Ibn Umar (MAPH) used to say: "When you survive till the evening, do not expect to live until the morning; and when you survive until the morning, do not except to live until the evening (do good deeds) when you are in good health before you fall sick, and (do good deeds) as long as you are alive before death strikes". (Al-Bukhari)

Commentary Hadith 1: As compared with the pleasures and luxuries, which are in store for a true believer in Jannah in the Hereafter, this world is a prison; and against the ceaseless torture that awaits the disbelievers in Hell, this world is a Jannah for them. It can also mean that the way a Muslim saves himself in life from lusts and desires and leads a pious life with fear of Allah, this world is a prison for him because he is fettered in the chains of rules and regulations, while a disbeliever is free from all kinds of restrictions and is completely given to lusts and desires, and this is how this world is a Jannah for him. The purpose of this Hadith is to induce Muslims for the preparation of Al-akhirah (the Hereafter) and prevent them from unlawful luxuries of this world.

Commentary Hadith 2: A person who will consider this world as a temporary stage will certainly not like that his clothes be entangled in thorny bushes of this world. The greatest fault of man is that he does not understand this status of the world. In spite of the fact that he is not sure of a moment's life here, he occupies himself in amassing goods and riches which would last for a hundred years.

SAWS: May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection
MAPH: May Allah be pleased with him

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Hadith 1: Chapter 75, Page 158, No 470
Hadith 2: Chapter 75, Page 158, No 471