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 an object in front of him, then placed another object beside it, and a third object a little farther away, and said: "Do you know what this is?" They said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "This is man, the object placed next to him is his death, and the one placed farther away is his hope. He continues to pursue his hope, but before he can reach it, death seizes him."