The Prophet's (s) Recommendation to Ibn `Umar, Allah Be Pleased With Both
of Them

Al-Tirmidhi narrated from Ibn `Umar - Allah be well-pleased with both of them!
- that he said: "Allah's Messenger held my shoulders1 and
said: 'Be in the world as if you were either a stranger or a traveller, and
count yourself as one of those who lie in their graves.'"2

Al-Nasa'i's and Ahmad's narrations have the following addition at the beginning
of the hadith: "Worship Allah as if you see Him."

This recommendation contains the exposition of the stages of spiritual travel
and wayfaring toward the station of the Supreme Sovereign King. These three
stages include all the abodes of travelers and the stations of those who have
arrived. We have made an extensive and valuable study of this narration, which
we shall cite further down, if Allah wills.

NOTES:

1 Al-Tirmidhi's wording has "held part of my body,"
but the shaykh used the wording of al-Bukhari. The latter narrated the hadith
without the clause "and count yourself as one of those who lie in their
graves."

2 Narrated by al-Bukhari as mentioned, al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah,
Ahmad

Allah's blessings and peace on the Prophet., his Family, and his Companions