Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) placed a stick in front of him, another to one side, and then, a little farther away, placed a third stick. He then said: "Do you know what this is?" The companions said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "This is man, this is his death, and that is his hopes. He keeps pursuing his desires, but before he can attain them, death seizes him."