الحسين بن علوان عن سعد بن طريف عن الأصبغ بن نباته قال: كنت جالسا عند أمير المؤمنين صلوات الله وسلامه عليه فجاء إليه رجل فشكا إليه الدنيا وذمها فقال له أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: ان الدنيا منزل صدق لمن صدقها ودار غنى لمن تزود منها ودار عاقبة لمن فهم عنها مسجد أحباء الله ومهبط وحى الله ومصلى ملائكته ومتجر أوليائه اكتسبوا فيها الجنة وربحوا فيها الرحمة فلما ذا تذمها؟ وقد آذنت ببينها ونادت بانقطاعها ونعت نفسها وأهلها فمثلت ببلائها إلى البلاء وشوقت بسرورها إلى السرور، راحت بفجيعة وابتكرت بعافية تحذيرا وترغيبا وتخويفا فذمها رجال غداة الندامة وحمدها آخرون ذكرتهم فذكروا وحدثتهم فصدقوا فيا أيها الذام للدنيا المعتل بتغرير هامتي استذمت إليك الدنيا وغرتك؟ أبمنازل آبائك من الثرى؟ أم بمضاجع أمهاتك من البلى؟ كم مرضت بكفيك؟ وكم عللت بيديك تبتغى له الشفاء وتستوصف له الأطباء لم ينفعه اشفاقك ولم تعفر طلبتك مثلت لك به الدنيا نفسك وبمصرعه مصرعك فجدير بك أن لا يفنى به بكائك وقد علمت أنه لا ينفعك أحبائك.
8.Al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿUlwān narrated from Saʿd ibn Ṭarīf, from Aṣbagh ibn Nubātah who said, “I was seated with Amīr al-Muʾminīn  when a man came to him and complained about the world and spoke ill of it. So Amīr al-Muʾminīn  told him, ‘Verily this world is an abode of truth for the one who is veracious with it, an abode of riches for the one who takes provisions from it [for the Hereafter], and an abode of consequence for those who comprehend it. It is the place of prostration by those who love Allah, the place where the revelation of Allah descended, where His angels pray [and send salutations], where His friends conduct trade [for the Hereafter] in which they earn Paradise and profit from [Divine] mercy. So why do you criticise it when parting from it has been announced and the call to separate from it has been made, and it has informed [everyone] of its own death and the death of its inhabitants? Through its trial it exemplifies the trial [of the Hereafter] and through its delight it exemplifies the delight [of Paradise]. It departs with tragedy and arrives with wellbeing, as a warning, an enticement, and a frightening alarm. Hence, some people criticised it after their regret and others praised it. It reminded them, so they remembered and it spoke to them, so they accepted [its speech]. So O you who are criticising this world while being beset by its delusions, when did the world elicit your disdain and [how did it] deceive you? Was it by the abodes of your forefathers within the earth or the tombs of your mothers in the decrepit ruins? How many sick people did you tend to yourself and care for by your own hands? You would seek out a cure for him and consult physicians, yet neither did your concern benefit you, nor did you achieve what you sought. Through him, the world demonstrated to you your own reality, and by his demise, your own [eventual] demise. So it behoves you that your tears should never end, as you have realised that your loved ones cannot benefit you.’”