LINGUISTIC MEANING “Be in This World As If You Were a Stranger Or A
“Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler.” ~Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) The concept of being a stranger and how to interact with the stranger is a common theme in Islamic religious texts. The two primary sources of Islamic teachings are the Qur’an, the Holy Book of Islam, and the Hadith/Sunnah traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). To Muslims, the Qur’an is the literal Word of God, revealed to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) through Angel Gabriel, who recited the Qur’an to Muhammad (pbuh) in installments for over twenty-three years. The Hadith on the other hand, refers to the statements, actions, and approvals of the Prophet (pbuh) throughout his mission. They are traced back to the Prophet through a chain of narrators and recorded in canonical books. So, what does Islam say and how do Muslims view the stranger? LINGUISTIC MEANING The concept of being a stranger takes TEXT OF THE HADITH OF THE STRANGER various forms and shapes in the The text of focus for this program is the Prophetic statement teachings of Islam. Some key words narrated by Mujahid: that might help us understand the concept include: ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar said, “Allah's Messenger (pbuh) took hold of my shoulder and said, ‘Be in this world as if you were Gharib – (Singular) strange, alien, a stranger or a traveler.” The sub-narrator added: Ibn ‘Umar foreign, unknown, unfamiliar used to say, “If you survive till the evening, do not expect to Ghurabaa’ – (Plural) strangers aliens, be alive in the morning, and if you survive till the morning, foreigners do not expect to be alive in the evening, and take from your Ghurbah – Strangeness health for your sickness, and (take) from your life for your death.” (Related by Al-Bukhari)1 These words connote being new or unknown in a place or setting.
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