Understanding Life and Death in Islam

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

The Prophet, peace be upon him, drew a square,

and drew a line in the middle extending beyond it,

and drew small lines toward the one in the middle

from the side of the middle line,

and said: This is the human being,

and this is his appointed term surrounding him, or having surrounded

him,

and what extends beyond it is his hope,

indicating that a person's hope for the comforts he seeks

in this world is longer and greater than his lifespan,

and these small lines are afflictions,

meaning hardships that befall him, such as illness

or loss of wealth and similar trials,

if this one misses him, that one bites him,

and biting is the sting of venomous creatures,

and if this one misses him, that one bites him,

which is death. Whoever does not die from a cause dies

at his appointed term.

In short, a person entertains hopes, but

his appointed term takes and snatches him away before he fulfills

his hopes.

Narrated by al-Bukhari.