It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that once the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) planted a stick in front of him, a second one near it, and a third one farther away. Then he asked the companions (may Allah be pleased with them), "Do you know what this is?" They said, "Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) know best!" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "This is man, and this is his death, and this is his hopes, which keep going beyond him to reach farther."