This world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed that this worldly life is like a prison for the believer, due to his commitment to religious duties—doing what is commanded and avoiding what is prohibited. When he dies, he finds relief from this and transitions to the everlasting bliss that Allah Almighty has prepared for him. As for the disbeliever, this life is like a paradise for him, as he indulges in whatever his soul desires and his whims dictate. But when he dies, he transitions to the everlasting punishment that Allah Almighty has prepared for him on the Day of Judgment.

Lessons

• An-Nawawi said: Every believer is imprisoned and restrained in this world from forbidden and disliked desires and is obligated to perform difficult acts of obedience. When he dies, he is relieved of all that and transitions to what Allah Almighty has prepared for him—everlasting bliss and complete comfort, free from any deficiency. As for the disbeliever, whatever pleasure he had in this world was limited and tainted with disturbances. When he dies, he transitions to eternal punishment and everlasting misery.
• As-Sindi said: His statement "a prison for the believer" means that even if the believer is living in comfort, Paradise is better for him than this world. And "a paradise for the disbeliever" means that even if he is in hardship, Hellfire is worse for him than this world.
• The insignificance of worldly life in the sight of Allah Almighty.
• The worldly life is a place of trial and test for the people of faith.
• The disbeliever hastened his paradise in this worldly life, and was punished by being deprived of the Paradise and the bliss of the Hereafter.