On a journey, a traveler considers time, supplies, and destination. They carry necessities, avoid needless burdens, and remember where they are going. The analogy invites us to keep possessions and time in service of life’s larger purpose.
Example: Earning to support family, learning, and honoring promises all remain duties. The traveler image does not mean abandoning them; it means carrying them responsibly without losing sight of the destination.
أَوْ links two possible images, and عَابِرُ سَبِيلٍ is an iḍāfah phrase meaning one who passes along a road.