أَلَا إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا مَلْعُونَةٌ وَمَلْعُونٌ مَا فِيهَا، إِلَّا ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ، وَمَا وَالَاهُ، وَعَالِمٌ، أَوْ مُتَعَلِّمٌ
Know that the world and what is in it are under condemnation, except remembrance of Allah, what is connected with it, and a scholar or a learner.
Source: الترمذي
أَلَا is an attention-getting “Be aware!” الدُّنْيَا means worldly life and its preoccupations; مَلْعُونَةٌ conveys condemned or deprived of blessing; ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ is Allah’s remembrance; مَا وَالَاهُ refers to what accompanies or is connected with it.
إِلَّا introduces an exception, highlighting remembrance, connected good works, a scholar, and a student. عَالِمًا means a scholar, and مُتَعَلِّمًا a learner.
This should not be read as condemning every lawful business, farming activity, or family duty. Worldly responsibilities performed rightly can serve worthy purposes.