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Fatwa CenterA statement attributed to Ibn Al-Qayyim
Question
assalaamu alaykum, is this statement from ibn al-qayyim (?): ,,This dunya (world) is like a shadow. If you try to catch it, you will never be able to do so. If you turn your back towards it, it has no choice but to follow you" can you tell me the source from this statement? Allaah love you in scha Allaah!
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
We did not find in the books of Ibn Al-Qayyim 
any words that indicate that meaning. However, it is stated in Basaa'ir Thawi At-Tamyeez Bi Lataa'if Al-Kitaab Al-'Azeez by Al-Fayroozaabaadi: "It was said, worldly life is like your shade. If you try to catch it, it will move away and if you abandon it, it will come nearer after you (i.e. follow you)."
Regarding likening the worldly life to the shade because both of them terminate very quickly, it was reported that Ibn Mas‘ood 
said: "The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, slept on a mat of palm fibers that had left marks on his side. We said, "O Messenger of Allaah! Would that you make us spread out a soft bedding for you." He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘What do I have to do with this world. My relationship with this world is like that of a traveler who sought shade under a tree, then went away and left it.’” [At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah]
Allaah Knows best.
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