How strong is the Hadith saying the Dunya is a prison for a Muslim?

The Hadith saying the Dunya is a prison for a believer is Sahih. Please check the wording of the Hadith below.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: الدُّنْيَا سِجْنُ الْمُؤْمِنِ، وَجَنَّةُ الْكَافِرِ

(Sayidina) Abu Hurairah (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) said, The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘The Dunya (worldly life) is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever (Kafir).’ (Sahih Muslim, 2956).

The Hadith above is authentic (Sahih). This is because all Musnad Hadith narrations in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim are authentic. A Musnad Hadith is one with a complete chain.

وأجمعت الأمة على صحة هذين الكتابين، ووجوب العمل بأحاديثهما (تهذيب الأسماء واللغات)

The Ummah is unanimously agreed that these two books are Sahih, and that their Hadith narrations must be acted upon. (Imam al-Nawawi, Tadheeb al-Asmaa wa al-Lughaat).

As for the meaning of the Hadith, it should be studied in detail. However, a brief explanation is also of merit. The Hadith does not mean that believers should be miserable in the Dunya since it is a prison. Rather, they should be the happiest of people. Since true joy, pleasure and happiness is in found in closeness to Allah Most High. Rather the Hadith is speaking in relative terms.
Similarly, the disbeliever (Kafir) is not going to enjoy true pleasure in the Dunya, as he has severed his relationship with Allah (Most High). Rather, he is in paradise relative to the intense torment he will experience in the Akhirah due to his Kufr.

كَالسَّجْنِ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ فِي جَنْبِ مَا أَعَدَّ لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الثَّوَابِ وَالنَّعِيمِ الْمُقِيمِ، وَكَالْجَنَّةِ لِلْكَافِرِ فِي جَنْبِ مَا أَعَدَّ لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْعُقُوبَةِ وَالْعَذَابِ الْأَلِيمِ. (مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح)

It is a prison for the believer relative to what has been prepared for him in the Akhirah (Afterlife), regarding reward and everlasting blessings. It is a paradise for the disbeliever (Kafir) relative to what has been prepared for him in the Akhirah (Afterlife) regarding punishment and painful torment. (Imam Ali al-Qari, Mirqaat al-Mafateeh).

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

-Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (28.03.2023)

See also:
Understanding the Black Seed Hadith

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