The world is a bridge الدنيا قنطرة

الدنيا قنطرة
The world is a bridge
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«الدنيا قنطرة» معناها أن الدنيا مرحلة عبور وليست دار إقامة؛ فالإنسان يمر بها إلى غاية أخرى، كما يعبر القنطرة إلى الجهة المقابلة.
أقرب مقابل إنجليزي:
“Life is a journey, not a destination.”
الحياة رحلة وليست غاية.
لكن إذا أردنا الحفاظ على صورة القنطرة والعبور، فالأقرب:
“This world is but a bridge to the next.”
الدنيا ليست إلا جسرًا إلى الآخرة.
وهذه الصياغة الأخيرة أقرب إلى المثل العربي في الصورة والمعنى، بينما “Life is a journey, not a destination” أقرب إلى الحكمة الإنجليزية الشائعة.
إذن:
👉 This world is but a bridge to the next. — الأقرب إلى «الدنيا قنطرة».
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“Life is a bridge” means that this world is a transit stage, not a permanent abode. A person passes through it to reach another destination, just as one crosses a bridge to the other side.
The closest English equivalent:
“Life is a journey, not a destination.”
Life is a journey, not a destination.
But if we want to preserve the image of the bridge and the crossing, the closest equivalent is:
“This world is but a bridge to the next.”
This world is nothing but a bridge to the hereafter.
This latter formulation is closer to the Arabic proverb in both imagery and meaning, while “Life is a journey, not a destination” is closer to the common English saying.

Therefore:
👉 This world is but a bridge to the next. — The closest equivalent to “Life is a bridge.”

The one who is uprooted neither reaches his destination nor preserves his mount. --- إن المنبت لا أرضاً قطع ولا ظهراً أبقى

The one who is cut off from his companions on a journey. And the back is the animal. He, may God bless him and grant him peace, said this to a man who exerted himself in worship until his eyes became sunken. When he saw him, he said to him: This religion is firm, so delve into it gently. The one who is cut off, that is, the one who strives in his journey until he eventually becomes cut off, he named him with what his end will be like the Almighty’s saying: “Indeed, you are going to die, and indeed, they are going to die.” It is used to describe someone who exaggerates in seeking something and goes to extremes until he may miss it for himself. 

 AI said

 "Don't burn the candle at both ends."

➜ Don't overwork yourself (very close to the idea).

"Slow and steady wins the race."

➜ Gradual and moderate progress is better than haste (opposite the meaning).

"Haste makes waste."

➜ Haste leads to bad results.

"He who grasps at too much loses everything."

➜ He who is greedy and excessive loses everything.

And the closest direct equivalent in meaning is:

👉 "Don't burn the candle at both ends."

 المنبت المنقطع عن أصحابه في السفر. والظهر الدابة. قاله عليه الصلاة والسلام لرجل اجتهد في العبادة حتى هجمت عيناه أي غارتا فلما رآه قال له: إن هذا الدين متين فأوغل فيه برفق إن المنبت أي الذي يجد في سيره حتى ينبت أخيراً سماه بما تؤؤول إليه عاقبته كقوله تعالى: "إنك ميت وإنهم ميتون" يضرب لمن يبالغ في طلب الشيء ويفرط حتى ربما يفوته على نفسه.