The great waliyy and scholar the Shaykh AHmad Ar-rifaa^iyy may Allaah increase his rank, advised one of his students saying:
“O my child, if you really had a mind, you would never be inclined towards this dunyaa even if the dunyaa inclined towards you, because the dunyaa is treacherous and deceitful humiliating its people.
“The one who inclines away from it is saved from it and the one who inclines towards it is harmed by it. The dunyaa is like the serpent, soft to the touch with a murderous poison. The pleasures of this dunyaa are quick to fade and its days pass quickly so busy yourself in it by fulfilling all the obligations and refraining from all the sins and do not neglect remembering Allaah.
“O my child, if you learned and acquired a good conveyance, then implement it and do not be among those who know yet do not apply. Its astonishing for the one who knows he is going to die, how does he forget death?! Its astonishing for the one who knows that he will depart from this life how does he immerse himself in the sinful pleasures of this world and spends his days loving it?!!
“You have wasted your time with fun and games while forgetting about death and you have spent your days in heedlessness and disobedience. Your playfulness is the playfulness of the one who feels safe from regret and your fun and games are the fun and games of the one who did not hear about the day of judgment. Its as if you dont think about going into the graves and its as if you don’t take into consideration the situation of the inhabitants of the grave.
“O my child, that which you eat gets excreted and that which you wear gets decayed and your death after which you will be called to account for what you have done is inevitable and departing from your beloved one is a guaranteed promise, the beginning of your life is weakness and weariness and the end of your life is death and graves.”