Chapter 7 - On Blaming the World

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “You can read in Imam Ali's book that this world is like a snake which feels soft but has a lethal poison inside. Any wise man will avoid it, but ignorant children will be attracted to it.”

The story of a greedy man in this world is similar to the story of a silk worm. The more silk it winds around itself, the harder it will get for it to exit, until it finally dies in grief.”

“What do I have to do with this world? The story of me and the world is similar to that of a man who is riding and reaches a tree. He rests under the shade of the tree for a short while, and then leaves the tree when its shade goes away.”

“The similitude of this world and the Hereafter can be best understood from the following example. Consider dipping your finger into the sea. How much water sticks to your finger when you withdraw it from the sea.”

Jesus (a.s) said: “The similitude of the world and the Hereafter is like that of a man with two wives. Whomever he pleases, the other one will get angry with him.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “The world appeared to Jesus (a.s) as a green-eyed woman. He said: “O' woman! How many times have you been married? She said: “Many times.” He asked: “Have they all divorced you?” She said: “No. I have killed them all.” He said: “Woe to your remaining husbands who do not learn any lessons from the destiny of your previous husbands!”