The meaning of not letting the life of this world deceive you is to not allow it to distract you
and draw you away from worship and obedience to Allah Most High. The meaning of being
deceived by the Deceiver (Shaitaan and his forces) is explained by Ash-Shawkaani like this:
"...let not Shaitaan deceive you with regard to Allah by saying to you: "Allah will
overlook this for you and will forgive you because you are a good person or because of
His great mercy upon you [and so you no longer hesitate in disobeying Allah]." Zubdatu
At-Tafseer p. 572So, when the desires of this world are tempting us to neglectd obedience to Allah and to
follow them instead of Allah, we should remember the lowliness of this life and its
insignificance in comparison to the life hereafter except as a testing ground where Allah
watches what we do. Other than that, this life is composed mostly of foolishness and wasted
time. Allah said:
{Wa maa hadhihi al-hayaati ad-dunya illa lahwun wa la'ibun wa inna ad-daara al-
aakhirata layiya al-hayawaanu lau kaanoo ya'lamoon}
{And the life of this world is nothing but frivolity and playing while the realm of the
hereafter is the true life if they only knew.} Al-'Ankabut:64The only good that we can get out of this life is whatever obedience and worship we can
offer to Allah while we are here. Of utmost importance in this regard is learning our din and
teaching what we have learned to others along with calling others to enter into belief,
submission and practice of Islam. The Prophet (sas) said:
"Alaa inna ad-dunya mal'oonarun mal'oonatun maa fiha illa dhikru Allahi ta'aala wa maa
waalaahu wa 'aaliman wa muta'alliman."
"Verily this dunya is cursed and all that is in it is cursed except for the remembrance of
Allah and all that goes with it and a scholar or a student." At-TirmidhiThe most important thing to realize here is that the human heart by nature is a slave to
something. If that slavery ('uboodiya) is not directed to Allah Most High, then it will surely
find something else to which to attach itself. Also, all might and greatness is derived from
Allah's might and greatness so whoever is not attached to Allah will be pathetic and weak
even in this life and especially in the hereafter. Al-Imam Ash-Shafi'iy said:
"Man ghalabat 'alaihi shiddatu ash-shahwati li hubbi al-hayaati lazimathu al-'uboodiya li
ahlihaa. Wa man radhiya bi al-qunoo'i zaala 'anhu al-khudhoo'"
"Whoever is overcome by the intensity of his desires because of love of this life will of
necessity become enslaved to its people. And whoever is content by being satisfied
with little, will find the humiliation lifted from him."Understanding Islam - Dr. Arshad Ershad