The following is the advice of al-Hasan al-Basri to Umar bin Abdul Aziz, one of the pious caliphs of the Umayyads. Al-Hasan advised him about the nature of the world, because it could be someone who is pious even when he holds the highest authority and he needs advice that reminds him. Moreover, the position held by Umar was a very large position, because he was one of the kings who held the largest area in the world. The temptation, ambition, slander of the world, and the desire to enjoy it can appear at that time.

Al-Hasan al-Basri wrote a letter to Umar bin Abdul Aziz, the contents of the letter explaining the nature of the world. The text of the letter is as follows:

Amma ba'du ... O Amirul Mukminin, actually the world is a stopover house and the displacement is not a permanent residence.

Adam was revealed to the world from heaven as a punishment for it, so be careful. Indeed, those who desire the world will abandon it, the rich people in the world are poor people (compared to the hereafter), happy people of the world are people who are not excessive in it. If someone who is intelligent again cleverly observes it, then he sees him humiliating the one who glorifies him, scatters those who gather him. The world is like poison, whoever does not know it will eat it, whoever does not know it will be ambitious to him, even though, for God's sake it is the place of destruction.

O Amirul Mukminin, be like someone who is treating his wound, he endures a moment of pain because he does not want to endure long suffering. Patience over world suffering is lighter than taking the test. Smart people are people who are careful of the temptations of the world. The world is like a bride, spies look at her, hearts are entangled with her, to her, for the sake of the One who sent Muhammad with the truth, is the murderer for who marries her.

O Amir al-mu'minin, be careful of the traps of destruction, watch out for the ugliness. Its prosperity continues with misery and suffering, permanence leads to destruction and mortality. Know O Amir al-mu'minin, that his imagination is false, his hopes are vanity, his clarity is murky, his life is suffering, the people who leave him are people who are guided by Taufik, and those who hold on to him are wretched lago drowning. The smarter clever people are those who are afraid of what Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala has created to cause fear, be aware of what Allah has warned, run away from mortal homes to eternal homes, this belief will be felt when death approaches.

The world O Amirul Mukminin, is a house of punishment, who does not have the intelligence to collect for him, who is not knowledgeable about him will be fooled, while a person who is more intelligent is a person who lives in the world like a person who treats his pain hoping for recovery, he is afraid of the bad consequences of the afterlife.

World O Amir al-mu'minin, for Allah's sake only dreams, while Hereafter is real, between them is death. The servants are in a dream that wears away, verily I say unto you O Amir al-mu'minin what a wise man says,

‘If you are safe, then you will survive the great riots. If not, then I don't think you will be safe. '

When the letter of al-Hasan al-Basri arrived at the hands of Umar bin Abdul Aziz, he cried heartily so that the people around him felt sorry for him. Umar said, "May Allah bless al-Hasan al-Basri, he continues to wake us from sleep and remind us of negligence. It's really amazing, he is a loving man towards us (leader), he is so sincere to us. He is a counselor who is very honest and very fluent in his language. "

Umar bin Abdul Aziz replied to Surat al-Hasan by saying:

"Your valuable advice has come to me, I treat myself with that advice. You explain the world with its essential qualities, smart people are people who are always careful of the world, as if the people who have been determined to die are dead. Wassalamu'alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh. "

When Umar's reply arrived at al-Hasan's hand, he said, "Amir al-mu'minin is truly amazing, a man who speaks the truth and receives advice. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala has glorified his blessings with his leadership, blessed the people with their power, making them mercy and blessings.

Al-Hasan al-Basri wrote a little more message to Umar bin Abdul Aziz by saying:

"Amma ba'du, actually great fear and the case sought are in front of you, and you will surely witness it, congratulations or wounds." (Az-Zuhd, al-Hasan al-Bashri, p.169).